Catheter Light Emitting Portion Length for Vessel Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional catheters using near-infrared light for blood vessel visualization struggle to clearly indicate when the distal end is inserted into a blood vessel, as the proximal end of the light emitting portion remains outside the vessel, making early detection of blood vessel securement difficult.
Innovation Solution
A catheter design featuring a flexible tubular shaft with a light emitting portion at the distal end and a non-light emitting portion extending towards the proximal end, where the light emitting portion is 7 mm or less in length or six times or less the outer diameter of the non-light emitting portion, ensuring the entire light emitting portion is within the blood vessel for clear visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light emitting portion is disposed over a relatively long range from distal end to proximal end of the shaft, then the light emitting portion can provide sufficient illumination, but only the distal end portion is darkened in the received light image, making it difficult to detect blood vessel securement at an early stage
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is segmented into a light emitting portion and a non-light emitting portion. The light emitting portion is positioned at the distal end and has a controlled length (7 mm or less, or six times or less the outer diameter of the non-light emitting portion). This segmentation ensures that when the distal end is inserted into the blood vessel, the entire light emitting portion is contained within the vessel, causing complete darkening in the received light image and enabling clear detection of blood vessel securement.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the light emitting portion length is reduced to 7 mm or less or six times or less the outer diameter of the non-light emitting portion, then the entire light emitting portion can be located within the blood vessel for clear visualization, but the illumination coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The length of the light emitting portion is precisely controlled within specific parameters (7 mm or less, or six times or less the outer diameter of the non-light emitting portion). This parameter optimization ensures that the light emitting portion is sufficiently short to be completely contained within the blood vessel when the distal end is inserted, enabling complete darkening and clear detection of blood vessel securement, while maintaining adequate illumination for visualization.
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
This configuration allows for early and clear detection of blood vessel securement by darkening the light emitting portion in the received light image, facilitating easier insertion confirmation.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting portion that is located at a distal end of the shaft and emits near-infrared light by being irradiated with light
Implementation Method 2
a non-light emitting portion that extends from the light emitting portion toward a proximal end side of the shaft and does not emit the near-infrared light
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter includes: a shaft to be inserted into a blood vessel, the shaft being flexible and having a tubular shape. The shaft comprises: a light emitting portion that is located at a distal end portion of the shaft and is configured to emit near-infrared light by being irradiated with light, and a non-light emitting portion that extends from the light emitting portion toward a proximal end side of the shaft and does not emit the near-infrared light. A length of the light emitting portion in an extending direction of the shaft is six times or less an outer diameter of the non-light emitting portion in an extending direction of the shaft.