Catheter Positioning System With Releasable Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for intravascular catheter placement, particularly for regional anesthesia and central venous catheters, face challenges such as inaccurate placement, patient discomfort, leakage issues, and complications like pneumothorax and infection, due to the use of large needles, flexible catheters that lose trajectory, and the need for separate hubs which can lead to kinking and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A catheter positioning system using a flexible catheter fitted over a smaller gauge needle with a releasable clamp to prevent axial movement, allowing precise placement under ultrasonographic imaging, and featuring a permanent hub for direct connection to infusion tubing, eliminating the need for additional hubs and wire guides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large gauge needle is used to insert the catheter, then the catheter can be successfully placed, but patient trauma and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter insertion system is divided into separate components: a small gauge needle for initial puncture, a separate catheter for infusion, and a hub for connection. This allows the needle to be small (reducing trauma) while still enabling successful catheter placement through the needle tract.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is threaded through the internal lumen of the introducing needle, with the catheter nested inside the needle during insertion. This allows the catheter to follow the needle tract into the vessel while the needle provides structural support and trajectory control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a flexible catheter is used, then patient comfort is improved, but the catheter loses trajectory control and accurate placement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible catheter is nested within the stiffer introducing needle during insertion, allowing the needle to provide trajectory control while the catheter remains flexible for patient comfort. The needle acts as a guide rail for the flexible catheter.
Solution Approach 2:
The introducing needle is inserted first to establish the correct trajectory and position before the catheter is advanced through it. This preliminary positioning action ensures accurate placement while allowing the use of a flexible catheter.
3Ease of operation
If a separate hub is attached to the catheter after insertion, then connection to infusion tubing is enabled, but the risk of kinking and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub is integrated as a permanent component at the proximal end of the catheter, combining the catheter and connection interface into a single unit. This eliminates separate attachment steps that could introduce contamination or kinking, while still enabling connection to infusion tubing.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub is pre-attached to the catheter before insertion, so the connection interface is already in place and properly positioned. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for post-insertion hub attachment, reducing contamination risk and preventing kinking during the attachment process.
4Manufacturing precision
If ultrasonographic imaging is used to guide catheter placement, then placement accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion system is segmented into distinct components (needle, catheter, hub) with clear functional boundaries, making the procedure more manageable despite using ultrasonographic imaging. Each component has a specific role that simplifies the overall complex procedure.
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
This system simplifies and enhances the accuracy of catheter placement, reduces patient trauma, and decreases the risk of complications by maintaining catheter stability and preventing bacterial contamination, while allowing for continuous anesthesia delivery.
Implementation Method 1
A catheter positioning system uses a flexible catheter fitted over a smaller gauge needle with a releasable clamp to prevent axial movement
Implementation Method 2
allowing precise placement under ultrasonographic imaging
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter positioning system includes a catheter needle assembly comprising a catheter having a permanent hub and a needle carried in the catheter lumen. A releasable clamp is used to compress the catheter against the needle to prevent axial movement of one relative to the other. The clamp is periodically released after being moved a short distance toward the target vessel or nerve and is repositioned a short distance from the skin entry point to further advance the catheter needle assembly. The clamp is configured to be removed from the catheter by movement in a direction other than along the longitudinal axis of the catheter while the catheter hub remains in place. After successful placement of the catheter, the clamp may be snapped apart or opened along a hinge without moving the catheter from its final position.