Catheter Tip Diffuser With Staggered Holes For Flow Breaking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vascular infusion systems face challenges with high exit velocities of infusants during rapid infusion procedures, leading to increased backpressure, potential vein damage, and inefficiencies in fluid delivery, which can result in system failures and discomfort to patients.
Innovation Solution
The development of an intravenous catheter with a tapered tip featuring a plurality of diffusion holes arranged in a staggered array, which divert fluid flow through the catheter wall, reducing jet velocity and pressure, and incorporating flow breaking features to disrupt and scatter the fluid jet, thereby reducing stress on vein walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the infusion rate is increased to achieve rapid fluid delivery, then the productivity is improved, but the backpressure and system pressure increase causing potential system failures
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip is segmented into multiple holes (e.g., 3-7 holes) arranged in a staggered array instead of a single opening. This segmentation distributes the fluid flow across multiple exit points, reducing the velocity and pressure of individual jets while maintaining high total infusion rates. The staggered arrangement further divides the flow pattern to minimize coherent jet formation and pressure buildup.
Solution Approach 2:
The holes are positioned at specific locations on the catheter tip with varying orientations (e.g., 45-90 degrees relative to the catheter axis). This local variation in hole quality creates diverse flow patterns that reduce overall backpressure. The different orientations allow fluid to exit in multiple directions, distributing stress across the vascular system rather than concentrating it in a single direction.
2Productivity
If the infusion rate is increased to achieve rapid fluid delivery, then the productivity is improved, but the exit jet velocity increases causing vein damage and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the total flow into multiple smaller holes, the exit velocity of each individual jet is reduced proportionally. For example, if flow is divided into 5 holes, each jet has approximately 1/5 the velocity of a single-hole design at the same total flow rate. This segmentation directly addresses the velocity-related harm while preserving high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holes are oriented at various angles (45-90 degrees) relative to the catheter axis, changing the dimensional direction of fluid exit. This angular distribution disperses the kinetic energy of the exiting fluid in multiple spatial dimensions rather than concentrating it in a single axial direction, thereby reducing the effective jet velocity impact on vein walls.
3Quantity of substance
If the concentration and infusion rate of contrast media are increased to improve image quality, then the bolus density is improved, but the system pressure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-hole catheter tip segments the contrast media flow into multiple streams, reducing the pressure required to achieve high bolus density. By distributing the flow across multiple holes with optimized orientations, the system can deliver high concentrations of contrast media at lower pressures, preventing system component failure while maintaining diagnostic image quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for increased infusion rates while minimizing vein damage and system pressure, enhancing patient comfort and the efficiency of fluid delivery by reducing tip jet velocity and system pressure, thus preventing extravasation and improving the stability of the catheter within the vein.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of diffusion holes arranged in a staggered array, which divert fluid flow through the catheter wall
Implementation Method 2
incorporating flow breaking features to disrupt and scatter the fluid jet
Data Source
AI summary
A peripheral catheter having a catheter tip diffuser for reducing an exit velocity of an infusant within the catheter. Pluralities of diffusion side holes are provided on the tip portion of the catheter. Some examples further include pluralities of annularly arranged, staggered diffusion holes provided on the tip portion of an intravenous catheter to streamline infusant issued from the diffusion holes. An inner surface of each diffusion hole is further angled relative to the inner surface of the catheter lumen such that an infusant within the lumen exits the catheter though the diffusion holes at an angle less than 90°.