External Catheter Stabilizer with Hook Retention Mechanism
Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter stabilization methods, such as the Foley catheter with an inflated balloon, cause bladder spasms and require frequent replacement, while external stabilizers lack secure retention over the stoma site, leading to dislodgment and infection risks.
Innovation Solution
An external catheter stabilizer device with a base portion and central passageway that securely holds the catheter in place using a hook mechanism, allowing for observation and airflow, reducing the need for frequent catheter changes and minimizing infection risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Foley catheter with an inflated balloon is used to retain the catheter in place, then the catheter remains stationary within the bladder, but it causes bladder spasms and extreme discomfort to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the retention function from the internal balloon mechanism and relocates it to an external stabilizer device positioned at the stoma site. The external stabilizer uses a clamp mechanism to secure the catheter externally, eliminating the need for the balloon to contact the bladder wall, thereby preventing bladder spasms while maintaining catheter stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The external stabilizer device acts as an intermediary between the catheter and the patient's body. It provides the retention function through external clamping at the stoma site, serving as a mediator that prevents direct contact between the balloon and the bladder wall, thus eliminating the harmful interaction that causes spasms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If external stabilizers are used to retain the catheter at the stoma site, then patient comfort is improved, but the catheter lacks secure retention and can be easily dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into a single external stabilizer device: (1) a positioning element to secure the catheter at the stoma site, (2) a clamp mechanism for secure retention, and (3) a structure that allows observation and airflow. This integration provides both patient comfort and reliable catheter retention without requiring separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp mechanism incorporates dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the catheter to be securely retained while accommodating minor movements and changes in stoma size during healing. The clamp can be adjusted to maintain optimal retention security as the patient's condition evolves.
3Ease of manufacture
If the catheter is taped down directly to the skin, then some retention is provided, but it is not an adequate long-term solution for extended drainage periods
Solution Approach 1:
The external stabilizer device is designed to be applied once and remains in place for extended periods, providing preliminary and sustained retention action. The device includes features like the clamp mechanism and positioning elements that are pre-configured to maintain secure retention throughout the healing process and extended drainage periods, eliminating the need for frequent reapplication.
4Ease of operation
If the catheter is not closely monitored and guarded, then ease of operation is maintained, but the catheter can easily become mechanically pulled out causing pain and infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The external stabilizer device features curved and contoured surfaces that conform to the patient's body and stoma site. The positioning element and clamp are designed with ergonomic curves that provide secure retention while allowing natural body movements, preventing mechanical dislodgment without restricting patient freedom of movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of stabilizing a tube at a stoma of a patient includes providing a stabilizing device having a base portion and a tube holding portion that is attached at the base portion via at least two legs and that, with the base portion affixed to the patient, is spaced from the stoma of the patient. The tube holding portion has a passageway therethrough that is configured to receive the tube that passes through the stoma. The tube holding portion may be adjusted to position the tube in a free-flow orientation or a restricted-flow orientation. The tube holding portion may include a disinfecting wiping element. The stabilizing device may have pads coupled to respective legs via an elastomeric connecting element to allow for adjustment of the pads relative to the legs. The tube holding portion may include flexible tabs that deflect to enlarge an effective diameter of the passageway.