Urinary Catheter Assembly With Selective Protective Sleeve Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urinary catheters with protective sleeves are uncomfortable and inconvenient to use, particularly for users with limited dexterity, and there is a need for a system that allows users to choose between using a catheter with or without a protective sleeve based on their conditions.
Innovation Solution
A urinary catheter assembly with a protective sleeve that can be removed simultaneously with the catheter from the package or left in the package, depending on the removal procedure, utilizing attachments with varying detachment forces to facilitate easy handling and user choice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective sleeve is provided on the catheter, then the risk of contamination is reduced, but the comfort and ease of use deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is segmented from the catheter through detachable attachments, allowing the sleeve to be separated into two functional states: attached during storage for protection, and detached during use for comfort. This segmentation enables the system to provide both contamination protection and user comfort depending on the operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system between the protective sleeve and catheter is designed to be dynamically changeable - firmly attached during storage to maintain sterility, but easily detachable during use to improve comfort. The detachable attachments allow the configuration to transition from a protected state to a comfortable state based on user needs.
2Reliability
If a protective sleeve is permanently attached to the catheter, then contamination protection is maintained, but device complexity and handling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is divided into detachable segments from the catheter through separate attachments. This segmentation allows the sleeve to function as an independent protective component during storage, while enabling easy separation during use to simplify handling and reduce complexity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sleeve is designed to be discarded in the package after use, while the catheter is recovered for use. This approach eliminates the need for permanent attachment, reducing handling complexity while maintaining contamination protection during the critical storage phase. The sleeve serves its protective function and is then discarded, avoiding unnecessary complexity during actual use.
3Ease of operation
If the protective sleeve is always removed before use, then comfort is improved, but the risk of contamination during removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective sleeve is pre-attached to the catheter in a sterile environment during manufacturing, ensuring the catheter remains protected until the moment of use. This preliminary attachment prevents contamination during storage and transport, while the detachable design allows clean separation at the point of use without exposing the catheter to contamination risks during the removal process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate catheters are provided with and without protective sleeves, then user preference is accommodated, but manufacturing and handling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single catheter assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides contamination protection during storage through the attached protective sleeve, and enables user comfort during use through easy detachment of the sleeve. This universal design accommodates both user preferences (those who want protection and those who want comfort) within one product, eliminating the need to manufacture and manage separate catheter types.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective sleeve and catheter are merged into a single assembly through detachable attachments, combining the benefits of both protected and comfortable designs in one product. This merging allows the system to function as a protected unit during storage and as a separate unit during use, accommodating diverse user needs while simplifying manufacturing and inventory management compared to producing separate catheter variants.
Data Source
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AI summary
A urinary catheter assembly (1) for relieving urinary retention is provided, which comprises a package (3) housing a protective sleeve (5) and a catheter (7), the protective sleeve protecting the catheter. To allow a catheter to be removed from the package with or without a protective sleeve, the catheter assembly forms a removal structure configured for at least a first removal procedure and a second removal procedure. The first removal procedure provides simultaneous removal of the catheter and the protective sleeve from the package with the protective sleeve protecting the catheter, and the second removal procedure provides removal of the catheter from the package and retains the protective sleeve in the package.