Catheter Plug Grooves for Flashback Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The visualization of blood flashback for confirming intravenous catheter placement can be compromised due to blood pressure variations, which may lead to unsuccessful placements or unreliable signals.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with a plug having multiple grooves on its outer surface, each designed to accommodate varying blood pressures and gauges, ensuring consistent visualization of blood flashback regardless of pressure fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single chamber is used for blood flashback visualization, then the device structure is simple, but the visualization reliability varies with blood pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The single chamber is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) with different volumes and configurations. Each chamber is optimized for specific blood pressure conditions, allowing reliable visualization across varying pressure levels while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different chambers are designed with different local characteristics - varying volumes, shapes, and positions - to optimize blood flashback visualization for specific pressure conditions. The first chamber has a larger volume for low pressure conditions, while the second and third chambers have different configurations for higher pressure conditions.
2Reliability
If the chamber volume is large, then blood flashback is visible at low blood pressure, but the device size increases and may not be suitable for all applications
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large chamber, the system segments the visualization space into multiple chambers of different volumes. The first chamber has a larger volume optimized for low pressure conditions, while the second and third chambers have smaller volumes for higher pressure conditions, avoiding the need for a single oversized chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different blood pressure conditions by providing multiple chamber options. Under low pressure, blood fills the first chamber; under higher pressure, blood may fill the second or third chambers, allowing the effective visualization volume to change dynamically with pressure conditions.
3Volume of moving object
If the chamber volume is small, then the device size is reduced, but blood flashback may not be visible at low blood pressure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the visualization function across multiple chambers with different volumes. While individual chambers like the second and third have smaller volumes for compactness, the first chamber provides a larger volume specifically for low pressure conditions, ensuring reliable visualization across all pressure levels without requiring all chambers to be large.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a single groove configuration is used on the plug, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying blood pressure conditions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The single groove is segmented into multiple grooves (first groove, second groove, third groove) corresponding to the multiple chambers. Each groove is configured with different characteristics to accommodate specific pressure conditions, enabling the device to adapt to varying blood pressures while maintaining a relatively simple groove-based structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple groove configuration provides universal adaptability to different blood pressure conditions. The grooves work together with the multi-chamber system to provide a unified solution that handles both low and high pressure scenarios, making the device versatile across different clinical situations.
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
The grooves on the plug facilitate clear visualization of blood flashback across different blood pressure conditions, enhancing the reliability of intravenous catheter placement.
Implementation Method 1
the grooves of the outer surface of the plug accommodate varying blood pressures and gauges
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C~1D
AI summary
A catheter system may include a catheter adapter (14) and a catheter (21) extending distally from the catheter adapter. The catheter system may include a needle assembly (22), which may include a plug (24), an outer housing (26), and an introducer needle (28). An outer surface of the plug may include multiple grooves (34,36,56,58,60,62,64), which may be in fluid communication with the introducer needle and configured to receive blood flashback. The grooves may include a first groove (34,56) having a first surface- area-to-volume ratio, and a second groove (36,58) having a second surface-area-to-volume ratio. The first surface-area-to-volume ratio may be less than the second surface-area-to-volume ratio. The first groove may have a greater volume than the second groove. The outer housing may seal a top of the first groove and a top of the second groove to prevent blood from flowing out the top of the first groove and the top of the second groove.