Catheter Port Fixing Assembly for One-Hand Surgical Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing catheter ports for subcutaneous implantation require complex assembly processes, making it difficult for surgeons to easily connect and fix catheters during surgery, which can lead to handling challenges and risks of losing fixing elements.

Innovation Solution

A port design featuring a preassembled fixing element with a clamping mechanism that transitions from a preassembled to an assembled state via a simple pushing action, allowing for one-hand operation and secure catheter fixation without additional placement steps, utilizing a body portion with a clamping element and locking elements for positive engagement with the housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate fixing element is provided for connecting the catheter to the port, then the catheter can be securely fixed, but the assembly process becomes complex and the fixing element may be lost before assembly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixation of catheterVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing element is preassembled on the housing, merging the fixing element and housing into a single unit. This eliminates the risk of losing the fixing element and simplifies the assembly process by reducing the number of separate components the surgeon must handle during surgery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing element is preassembled on the housing before the catheter connection is made. This preliminary action ensures the fixing element is already in position and cannot be lost, and allows for a simpler, faster assembly process during surgery where the catheter is simply placed on the pre-prepared connector.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a complex assembly process is used to fix the catheter, then secure fixation is achieved, but the handling during surgery becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixation of catheterVSAvoidhandling ease during surgery
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing element is preassembled on the housing before the catheter connection is made. This preliminary action ensures the fixing element is already in position and cannot be lost, and allows for a simpler, faster assembly process during surgery where the catheter is simply placed on the pre-prepared connector.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing element is designed with a modular structure including a body portion, clamping element, and locking element that can be preassembled as a unit on the housing. This segmentation allows for easy preassembly while maintaining secure fixation capability, and simplifies the surgical procedure by reducing the number of steps required during catheter connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If multiple separate components are provided for catheter connection, then secure fixation is achieved, but the risk of losing components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixation of catheterVSAvoidloss of fixing elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing element is preassembled on the housing, merging the fixing element and housing into a single unit. This eliminates the risk of losing the fixing element and simplifies the assembly process by reducing the number of separate components the surgeon must handle during surgery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing element is preassembled on the housing before the catheter connection is made. This preliminary action ensures the fixing element is already in position and cannot be lost, and allows for a simpler, faster assembly process during surgery where the catheter is simply placed on the pre-prepared connector.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3849652B1Port for a catheter for subcutaneous implantation into a patient
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 FRESENIUS KABI DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP3849652B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3849652B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3849652B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A port (1) for a catheter (2) for subcutaneous implantation into a patient comprises a housing (10), a cavity (110) arranged in the housing (10) for receiving a fluid, a needle-penetrable closure element (13) placed on the housing (10) and penetrable by a puncturing needle (50) for accessing the cavity (110), a connector (12) for connecting the catheter (2) to the port (1), the connector (12) having a shaft portion (121) for receiving the catheter (2) and a flow channel (124) formed in the shaft portion (121) and being in fluid connection with the cavity (110), and a fixing element (14) for fixing the catheter (2) on the connector (12). The fixing element (14) herein comprises a body portion (140), a clamping element (142) protruding from the body portion (140) along a fixing direction (F) and at least one locking element (147) formed on the body portion (140), the at least one locking element (147) holding the fixing element (14) on the housing (10) in a preassembled state and in an assembled state.