Catheter Package Liquid Stop Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urinary catheter packages with hydrophilic coatings that absorb liquid for easy insertion often spill the liquid swelling medium when tilted or inverted, causing wetting of hands or clothes and reducing the coating's effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A catheter package design featuring a first cavity for the catheter and a second cavity that functions as a liquid stop, preventing liquid from spilling out when the package is tilted or inverted, using a configuration where the second cavity communicates with the container's opening and has a lip-valve to maintain the hydrophilic coating's hydration level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the package is stored in a horizontal or inverted position to facilitate access and storage, then the liquid swelling medium may spill from the package, but this causes wetting of hands or clothes and reduces the coating's effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into two separate cavities: a first cavity for storing the liquid swelling medium and a second cavity for storing the catheter. The cavities are separated by a partition wall with a liquid-tight seal, preventing liquid from leaking into the second cavity or spilling from the package when tilted or inverted.
Solution Approach 2:
A liquid-tight seal acts as an intermediary barrier between the first cavity (containing liquid) and the second cavity (containing the catheter). This seal prevents the liquid from crossing into the wrong compartment while still allowing the package to be accessed and stored in various positions.
2Ease of operation
If a hydrophilic coating is applied to the catheter to provide low-friction insertion, then the coating absorbs liquid effectively, but the coating transforms from lubricious to adhesive when hydration level is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid swelling medium is pre-stored in the first cavity of the package, ready to hydrate the hydrophilic coating when needed. This preliminary preparation ensures that the coating is properly hydrated before use, maintaining its lubricious properties and preventing it from becoming adhesive during storage or handling.
3Ease of manufacture
If the package design is simplified to a single cavity, then manufacturing is easier, but liquid cannot be prevented from spilling when the package is tilted or inverted
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into two distinct cavities separated by a partition wall. This segmentation allows the liquid swelling medium to be contained in the first cavity while the catheter is stored in the second cavity, preventing liquid spillage when the package is tilted or inverted while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process.
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 liquid spillage from the package, maintaining the hydrophilic coating's lubricious properties and avoiding stains, even when the package is knocked over or stored in an inverted position, ensuring consistent catheter insertion ease.
Implementation Method 1
Intermittent catheters are typically more rigid than indwelling catheters since they have to be inserted by the user him-/herself and since they do not need to sit in the urethra for days or weeks. Intermittent urinary catheters may be provided with a hydrophilic coating that needs to be wetted prior to use and thereby absorbs a considerable amount of liquid.
Implementation Method 2
the container defines a first cavity for storing the liquid swelling medium and a second cavity communicating with an opening into the container and the cavities are configured so as to prevent liquid from travelling from the first cavity into the second cavity when the catheter package is tilted horizontally or inverted
Data Source
AI summary
A package for a catheter is provided. The package includes a container with a first cavity and a second cavity. The cavities are configured so as to prevent liquid swelling medium stored in the container from travelling from the second cavity into the first cavity and out through an opening into the container. Thus, the position of the cavities with respect to each other allows them to function as a water-lock.