Urethral Catheter Oxygen Sensor with Gas Barrier Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oxygen measurement devices are ineffective in accurately detecting oxygen levels in urine due to noise interference and inability to reliably measure oxygen in fresh urine excreted from the kidneys, as they are designed to detect oxygen in the bladder epithelial wall rather than urine.
Innovation Solution
An oxygen measurement device comprising a urethral catheter with a shaft and hub structure that allows urine to flow from the bladder to a lumen, where an oxygen sensor with phosphor, supported on a base, detects oxygen levels in the urine, and a gas barrier layer suppresses gas permeation to maintain accurate oxygen readings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an oxygen sensor main body is led out from a urethral catheter port to detect oxygen in the bladder epithelial wall, then the device can measure oxygen levels, but the sensor main body may be displaced and come into contact with the bladder wall causing measurement noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the oxygen sensing function from a traditional contact-type sensor and implements it as an optical sensor that detects oxygen dissolved in urine through the catheter wall, eliminating the need for sensor contact with the bladder wall and thus removing the source of measurement noise
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces urine as an intermediary medium between the oxygen sensor and the bladder environment. The sensor detects oxygen in urine rather than directly in the bladder wall, using urine as a mediator to transfer the measurement function while avoiding direct contact issues
2Measurement precision
If the oxygen sensor main body is located in the bladder to detect oxygen, then oxygen levels can be measured, but urine remaining in the bladder without excretion prevents reliable measurement of fresh urine oxygen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the oxygen sensor at the distal end of the catheter where fresh urine first enters, enabling preliminary detection of oxygen in newly excreted urine before it mixes with stagnant urine remaining in the bladder
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based oxygen detection with optical detection through the catheter wall, allowing non-contact measurement of oxygen in urine while the catheter structure ensures fresh urine flow passes over the sensor
3Ease of operation
If a urethral catheter is used to access the bladder for oxygen measurement, then urine can be accessed, but gas permeation through the catheter wall may interfere with oxygen measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the catheter: the catheter wall is made oxygen-permeable to allow sensor detection, while a gas barrier layer is applied selectively at the sensor interface to block external gas interference, creating local quality differentiation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structure combining an oxygen-permeable catheter wall material with an oxygen-impermeable gas barrier layer, creating a multi-layer composite that simultaneously allows urine access and prevents gas interference with measurements
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
Enables accurate and reliable measurement of oxygen in fresh urine excreted from the kidneys by minimizing noise interference and ensuring precise detection of oxygen levels in urine flowing through the catheter lumen.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor that detects oxygen in the urine flowing in the urine lumen, with the sensor comprising phosphor supported on a base
Implementation Method 2
A gas barrier layer extends along at least a portion of the axial extent of the urine lumen and is made of a material having an oxygen gas permeation rate less than the oxygen gas permeation rate of the shaft material to suppress gas permeation into the urine lumen
Data Source
AI summary
An oxygen measurement device constituting an oxygen measurement system includes a urethral catheter and an oxygen sensor main body. The urethral catheter has a shaft in which a urethral catheter lumen that enables circulation of urine flowed in via a urethral catheter port from inside a bladder is formed; and has a hub in which a urine lumen that is provided at a proximal end of the shaft and communicates with the urethral catheter lumen is formed. The oxygen sensor main body is provided on the hub in a manner capable of being brought into contact with urine circulating in the urine lumen, and detects oxygen in the urine. The shaft also includes a gas permeation suppressing part that suppresses gas permeation into the urethral catheter lumen by way of the shaft.