Catheter Stabilization via Temperature-Responsive Guide Wire
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current peripheral intravascular catheter insertion methods face challenges such as difficulty in cannulating thin and winding veins, risk of puncturing vessel walls, and inefficiency due to the need for multiple attempts, leading to wasted catheters and patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus featuring a hollow stabilizing component and a guide wire that can be extended from a needle to facilitate proper placement of a catheter sheath within a vein, using a two-step deployment mechanism that reduces the risk of vessel damage and allows for one-handed operation without additional tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a metal guide wire is used to facilitate catheter insertion, then the catheter can be positioned more easily, but the risk of puncturing the vein wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire changes its physical parameters from a rigid metal state to a flexible polymer state through exposure to body temperature blood, allowing it to conform to vein walls and reduce puncture risk while maintaining positioning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The guide wire transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that adapts its shape in response to the vein's geometry, enabling safe navigation through tortuous vessels without causing damage
2Reliability
If multiple attempts are made to cannulate difficult veins, then the catheter can be placed successfully, but patient discomfort and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible guide wire is pre-positioned through the needle into the vein before catheter insertion, creating a preliminary pathway that guides the catheter on the first attempt and eliminates the need for repeated puncture attempts
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible guide wire acts as an intermediary element between the needle and catheter, facilitating smooth transition and positioning while reducing the need for multiple attempts and associated patient discomfort
3Strength
If a rigid guide wire is used for support, then the catheter sheath can be slid more easily, but the flexibility to maneuver within winding veins is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire's flexibility parameter is dynamically adjusted by body temperature, allowing it to provide sufficient support for catheter sliding while simultaneously adapting to the flexibility requirements of winding vein navigation
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter assembly with segmented or step-wise deployment stabilization system includes a base or handle, puncture needle extending from the handle, and a deployment mechanism or mechanisms to selectively extend from the distal end of the needle for first length a hollow stabilizing component and as a second step to a second further length a stabilizing guide wire element. The needle will gain sub-dermal access to the patient to the intended position for deployment of a catheter. Hollow stabilizing component provides for a first additional guide and support for a catheter sheath from the distal end of the needle. The stabilizing wire element provides additional length, guide and support for the catheter sheath. The hollow stabilizing component has some degree of flexibility as does the guide wire to minimize chance of damage to surrounding tissue. The user can feel resistance and have the opportunity to retract either component and attempt redeployment without a retraction of the puncture needle and a second poke of the patient's skin. In the example for peripheral venous catheterization, the system reduces the probability of blood vessel puncture. The deployment mechanism can have a guiding system which ensures the proper sequence of deployment.