Catheter Adapter Magnetometer Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical devices for catheter insertion lack effective visualization of needle and catheter tip positions relative to each other during vascular access, leading to increased risk of pain and injury due to reliance on tactile sense and variable magnetic field measurements.

Innovation Solution

A catheter assembly with a catheter adapter subassembly and a needle subassembly, where one includes a permanent magnet and the other a magnetizable feature, utilizing magnetometers to determine their relative positions and movements, enhancing visualization through calculated tip positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a permanent magnet is placed on the needle hub, then the magnetic field is more reliable and consistent, but the system cannot measure relative motion between the needle hub and catheter adapter subassemblies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemagnetic field consistencyVSAvoidrelative position data

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic measurement system is segmented into two separate components: a permanent magnet attached to one subassembly (needle hub or catheter adapter) and a magnetizable feature attached to the other subassembly. This segmentation allows each component to have distinct functional characteristics - the permanent magnet provides a stable reference field while the magnetizable feature responds to changes in relative position, enabling measurement of motion between the two subassemblies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A magnetizable feature acts as an intermediary element that translates relative motion between the needle hub and catheter adapter into measurable magnetic field changes. This intermediary component allows the system to capture position information without compromising the reliability of the permanent magnet's field generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the cannula is magnetized prior to insertion, then the actual tip location can be reliably measured, but the system is subject to variability in consistently magnetizing the cannula

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetip location accuracyVSAvoidmagnetization consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The permanent magnet is pre-attached to one subassembly during manufacturing, eliminating the need for clinicians to perform magnetization procedures at the point of use. This preliminary action ensures consistent magnetic field generation without variability introduced by manual magnetization processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the permanent magnet's inherent field generation capability rather than requiring external magnetization equipment or procedures. The permanent magnet self-generates a consistent magnetic field without needing periodic re-magnetization, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating variability in magnetization consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If only one subassembly has a magnetic feature, then the system cannot detect relative motion between subassemblies, but adding magnetic features to both increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelative motion detectionVSAvoidmagnetic feature configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing permanent magnets on both subassemblies (which would create mutual interference and complexity), the system inverts the approach by placing a permanent magnet on one subassembly and a magnetizable feature on the other. This inversion allows the permanent magnet's field to act upon the magnetizable feature, enabling motion detection without the complexity of dual permanent magnet systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Improves the accuracy of vascular access by providing real-time relative position data of catheter and needle tips, facilitating safer and more precise insertion procedures.

Implementation Method 1

one of the catheter adapter subassembly and the needle subassembly includes a permanent magnet element, and the other of the catheter subassembly and the needle subassembly includes a magnetizable feature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field interaction: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

magnetometers positioned with respect to the catheter adapter subassembly and the needle subassembly, the magnetometers configured to determine relative movement of the catheter adapter subassembly and needle subassembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetometer

Data Source

PatentUS11413429B2Medical devices, systems and methods utilizing permanent magnet and magnetizable feature

Publication Date: 2022.08.16 BECTON DICKINSON & CO

AI summary

Systems, methods and devices are described including a catheter adapter subassembly including a magnetic feature. Systems include such a catheter adapter subassembly and a needle subassembly including a magnetic feature, and relative movement of the catheter adapter subassembly and the needle subassembly can be determined using a magnetometer.