Catheter Tip Rigidification via Axial Ridges and Recessed Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vascular infusion systems face challenges with high backpressures and fluid acceleration during rapid infusion procedures, leading to potential system failures and patient discomfort due to increased jet velocities and snagging risks with existing catheter geometries and diffuser holes.
Innovation Solution
A vascular infusion system with a modified catheter tip featuring a tapered profile and recessed diffusion holes, designed to reduce fluid pressure and prevent snagging, combined with axial ridges and stiffening materials to enhance rigidity and prevent buckling, while maintaining efficient infusion flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If diffuser holes are added to the catheter tip to reduce fluid pressure and jet velocity, then infusion safety is improved, but the catheter tip becomes more susceptible to crushing and snagging
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates axial ridges and stiffening materials at the tip region specifically, while maintaining diffuser holes for fluid distribution. This localized reinforcement provides structural integrity where needed without compromising the diffuser functionality elsewhere in the tip
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter tip uses composite construction combining flexible catheter material with stiffening materials and axial ridges. This composite structure provides both the flexibility needed for insertion and the rigidity required to prevent crushing during rapid infusion procedures
2Strength
If the catheter tip is made more rigid to prevent crushing, then structural integrity is improved, but snag-resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The axial ridges are positioned specifically at the insertion interface of the catheter tip, providing localized snag-resistance where the catheter enters the vein, while the rest of the tip maintains its diffuser hole configuration for optimal fluid distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter tip features a tapered curved profile that transitions smoothly from the catheter body. This curved geometry reduces snagging by eliminating sharp edges and corners that could catch on vein walls or surrounding tissues during insertion
3Productivity
If rapid infusion rates are increased to improve diagnostic image quality, then diagnostic yield is improved, but backpressure and system failure risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip divides the single fluid stream into multiple smaller jets through an array of diffuser holes. This segmentation of fluid flow distributes the infusion load, reducing backpressure in the main catheter lumen while maintaining the required total infusion rate for diagnostic procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser holes change the flow parameters by creating multiple exit pathways with different velocity distributions. This parameter change allows rapid infusion to be achieved with reduced peak pressures compared to a single large-bore opening
Data Source
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AI summary
A venous catheter having (114,214) a catheter tip comprising recessed (248) diffusion holes (230) for increasing the snag - resistance of the venous catheter. The invention further provides systems and methods for providing axial ridges (266) interposed between diffusion holes for increasing the rigidity of the vented catheter tip.