Non-Collapsible Catheter Tube With Dynamic Pressure Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indwelling fecal management catheters exert excessive pressure on the sphincter muscle, leading to potential damage and leakage of fecal matter around the catheter tube.
Innovation Solution
A non-collapsible catheter tube design with a compressible material that conforms to tissue and a pressure management system using a combination of inflatable balloon and chamber, allowing for effective drainage while minimizing pressure on the sphincter muscle and reducing leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a collapsible catheter tube is used, then the catheter can conform to tissue and reduce pressure on the sphincter muscle, but it creates a leakage path for fecal matter around the outside of the catheter tube
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tube employs a flexible yet non-collapsible design with thin-walled construction that allows the tube to conform to rectal tissue contours while maintaining structural integrity to prevent collapse and leakage. The flexibility enables tissue accommodation without compromising the sealed drainage pathway.
2Reliability
If a fixed volume air pocket is used to provide seal, then the seal to rectal tissues is improved, but the pressure increases during bowel movement, patient movement or patient sitting
Solution Approach 1:
The air pocket system transitions from a fixed volume to a dynamic volume that can adjust in response to changing rectal conditions. The air pocket expands or contracts based on rectal pressure variations during bowel movements, patient movement, or positioning, thereby maintaining an effective seal while preventing excessive pressure buildup on the sphincter muscle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of air pocket volume dynamically rather than maintaining a constant volume. This parameter change allows the air pocket to adapt to varying rectal pressures, ensuring continuous sealing effectiveness while regulating pressure transmission to the sphincter muscle.
3Reliability
If a non-collapsible tube is used, then leakage is reduced, but the pressure on surrounding tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The non-collapsible tube is constructed with flexible thin-walled material that prevents tube collapse and maintains a reliable drainage pathway while allowing the tube to conform to rectal tissue contours. This flexibility distributes pressure evenly across the surrounding tissue rather than concentrating it, reducing harmful pressure effects while maintaining drainage effectiveness.
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 solution effectively reduces pressure on the sphincter muscle and minimizes leakage by maintaining a balanced pressure equilibrium, ensuring efficient fecal matter drainage without damaging the sphincter tissue.
Implementation Method 1
the catheter tube comprises a material that compresses to reduce excessive pressure on surrounding tissue and accommodate patient movement
Implementation Method 2
Fecal management catheters generally comprise an inflatable balloon to anchor the catheter inside the rectum
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter according to certain forms generally includes an elongated tubular member and an inlet check valve. The elongated tubular member has a distal end portion configured for insertion into a body cavity comprising soft tissue, and includes an outer tube, a non-collapsible inner tube positioned within the outer tube, and a first compressible material positioned between the outer tube and the non-collapsible inner tube. The inlet check is valve in fluid communication with the first compressible material and is configured to selectively flow fluid into the first compressible material during expansion of the first compressible material.