Adjustable Catheter Side Port Angle for Effective Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catheter assemblies often have regions distal to the septum where stagnant fluid accumulates, leading to bacterial growth and potential infection due to difficult flushing.
Innovation Solution
A catheter assembly with an adjustable side port angle, allowing the side port to move between different angles, facilitating easier flushing and reducing stagnant fluid accumulation by aligning the side port fluid pathway with different openings depending on the position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed side port angle is used in the catheter assembly, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but stagnant fluid accumulates in the region distal to the septum leading to bacterial growth and infection risks
Solution Approach 1:
The side port is made movable relative to the catheter adapter body, allowing it to be positioned at different angles. This dynamic configuration enables the side port to be optimally aligned with the lumen during flushing operations, ensuring effective fluid flow and preventing stagnant fluid accumulation that leads to bacterial growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The angle of the side port with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter adapter body is made variable. By changing this angular parameter, the side port can be positioned to align with the lumen opening, facilitating efficient flushing and eliminating the harmful effect of stagnant fluid accumulation.
2Device complexity
If a fixed side port angle is used in the catheter assembly, then the device structure is simple, but flushing effectiveness is poor due to misalignment with the lumen
Solution Approach 1:
The side port is configured to be movable relative to the catheter adapter body, allowing dynamic adjustment of its angular position. This enables the side port to be aligned with the lumen opening during flushing, significantly improving flushing effectiveness without adding excessive complexity to the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The side port can be pre-positioned at an optimal angle before flushing operations begin. This preliminary positioning ensures that the side port is already aligned with the lumen, allowing immediate and effective flushing without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during the procedure.
3Productivity
If the side port is made movable to adjust the angle, then flushing effectiveness is improved by aligning with the lumen, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side port is made movable relative to the catheter adapter body through a simple hinge or pivot mechanism. This allows the side port to be positioned at different angles to align with the lumen for effective flushing, while the mechanism remains simple enough to avoid excessive device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter adapter is divided into separate components: the body and the movable side port. This segmentation allows the side port to be independently positioned and adjusted relative to the body, improving flushing effectiveness while keeping each component relatively simple in design.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a body and a side port extending outwardly from the body. The body may include a distal end, a proximal end, and an inner surface extending through the distal end and the proximal end and forming a lumen. An angle of the side port with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body may be adjustable. The catheter assembly may include a catheter extending distally from the distal end of the catheter adapter. The catheter assembly may include a septum disposed within the lumen proximal to a side port pathway extending through the side port and in fluid communication with the lumen.