Catheter Packaging With Integral Support Flap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional catheter packaging designs can damage balloons and stents during removal due to misshapen openings caused by grasping the packaging hoop, particularly problematic for coated stents.
Innovation Solution
A packaging device featuring a coiled tube with a planar mounting card and integral moveable luer retainer that secures and releases the proximal luer, along with a support flap creating a contact zone for safe insertion and removal, preventing pressure on the packaging opening and minimizing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the proximal end of the packaging hoop is grasped to remove the catheter, then the catheter can be removed from the packaging, but the opening in the tubing becomes misshapen due to pressure from the operator's fingers
Solution Approach 1:
A support flap is introduced as an intermediary element between the operator's fingers and the packaging opening. The support flap creates a triangular contact zone that allows the operator to grasp and apply force to the packaging without directly pressing on the opening, thereby preventing distortion of the opening shape while enabling easy catheter removal.
2Productivity
If the opening in the tubing is maintained open for catheter removal, then the catheter can pass through, but the opening becomes misshapen and damaged when pressure is applied
Solution Approach 1:
The support flap is positioned in advance to create a protective triangular contact zone before any force is applied during catheter removal. This beforehand cushioning structure prevents the opening from being misshapen or damaged by operator pressure, ensuring both efficient removal and opening integrity throughout the process.
3Device complexity
If a conventional packaging hoop is used without additional support structures, then the packaging is simple, but the balloon and stent may become damaged during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging structure is segmented into distinct functional components: the coiled tubing for catheter insertion, the support flap for protective grasping, and the mounting card for securing. This segmentation allows the packaging to provide protection against damage to the balloon and stent during removal while maintaining relative simplicity through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
Packaging for a catheter includes coiled tubing for receiving the catheter and a mounting card coupled to the coiled tubing. The windings of the coiled tubing are welded together to maintain the coiled configuration. The mounting card includes an integral support flap for reducing the risk of damage during catheter insertion and removal, an integral luer retainer for securing a catheter luer, and one or more integral tabs for attaching catheter accessories to the packaging. The integral support flap creates a contact zone which discourages grasping the packaging at a location that can potentially damage an object passing through the packaging, such as a balloon and/or stent. The integral luer retainer is configured to selectively alternate between a configuration which secures the catheter luer and configuration which allows releases the luer for easy insertion and removal of the catheter.