Catheter Kit Sealing Mechanism for Swelling Medium Containment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Catheter kits with hydrophilic coated catheters and urine collecting bags face issues where the liquid swelling medium can enter the urine bag, leading to uncertainty in medium quantity, evaporation causing clogs, and perceived unhygiene, making it undesirable for users.

Innovation Solution

A catheter kit design with a container, urinary catheter, and urine collecting bag, featuring a cover and sealing means that prevent liquid flow between the catheter and urine bag during storage but allow flow when the kit is ready for use, achieved through mechanisms like axial or rotational displacement of the handle relative to the catheter, or removal of a cover, ensuring secure sealing and easy operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the catheter is stored in liquid swelling medium in a combined kit with urine bag, then the catheter remains wetted and ready for use, but the swelling medium may enter the urine bag causing hygiene issues and clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter wetting reliabilityVSAvoidswelling medium contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The kit is divided into separate compartments: a container for the catheter with swelling medium, and a separate urine collecting bag. This segmentation prevents the swelling medium from contacting the urine bag while maintaining catheter wetting, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and contamination prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A sealable connection mechanism acts as an intermediary between the catheter container and urine bag. The seal prevents swelling medium leakage during storage, while allowing controlled connection during use, thus maintaining catheter wetting without causing contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the swelling medium is contained in the same container as the catheter and urine bag, then the kit is compact and easy to store, but the medium may evaporate and clog the construction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekit structure simplicityVSAvoidfluid flow reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The swelling medium is contained in a separate sealed container portion, segmented from the urine collection path. This prevents evaporation and crystallization from clogging the urine flow channels, while maintaining kit compactness through integrated design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container uses flexible sealing membranes and thin-film barriers to contain the swelling medium separately. These flexible seals prevent medium leakage and evaporation while allowing the compact integrated kit structure, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the sealing means is provided in the handle, then the sealing is secure and reliable, but the handle structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidhandle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing mechanism is merged with the handle structure, combining the gripping function and sealing function into a single integrated component. This provides secure sealing through the handle while avoiding additional separate sealing parts, resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If the cover is used to seal the container, then the sealing is simple and easy to operate, but the sealing reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing operation simplicityVSAvoidsealing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cover incorporates flexible sealing membranes and elastic sealing elements that automatically conform to the container opening. This provides simple cover-based operation while achieving reliable sealing through the self-adjusting flexible seal, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents premature liquid flow from the catheter into the urine bag during storage, maintains the swelling medium within the container, and allows seamless urine flow when needed, enhancing user hygiene and product usability.

Implementation Method 1

a hydrophilic surface layer intended to produce a low-friction surface character of the catheter by treatment with a liquid swelling medium prior to use of the catheter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP2750748B1Catheter kit

Publication Date: 2019.01.23 COLOPLAST AS

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AI summary

The invention relates to a catheter kit comprising a catheter and a urine bag stored in a package wherein flow is prevented between the catheter and urine bag when stored but enabled when the kit is used.