Catheter Tip Diffuser with Staggered Holes for Rapid Infusion
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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 system component failure, as well as inefficient momentum transfer and energy dissipation.
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 vessel walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rapid infusion rates are used to increase bolus density and improve image quality, then diagnostic yield increases, but system back pressure increases leading to component failure
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip is segmented into multiple holes (e.g., 3-7 holes) arranged in a specific pattern, dividing the single high-velocity jet into multiple lower-velocity jets. This segmentation reduces the momentum and back pressure while maintaining the same total infusion rate, thereby improving system reliability during rapid infusion procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The holes are arranged in a non-linear pattern (e.g., staggered or hexagonal array) rather than a simple linear row, utilizing two-dimensional spatial distribution. This dimensional change optimizes the dispersion of fluid jets and reduces coherent jet interactions that contribute to back pressure, allowing higher infusion rates without component failure
2Quantity of substance
If high concentration and high infusion rate are used to increase bolus density, then image quality improves, but jet velocity increases causing vein damage
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the infusant flow through multiple holes instead of a single opening, the velocity of each individual jet is reduced proportionally (e.g., a 3-hole array reduces velocity by approximately √3 compared to a single hole). This segmentation maintains the same total quantity of contrast media delivered while reducing the harmful high-velocity jet impact on vein walls
Solution Approach 2:
The holes are positioned at specific locations and angles on the catheter tip surface, with varying orientations to optimize local flow patterns. This local quality control ensures that jets are dispersed in multiple directions rather than concentrated in one direction, reducing focal points of high stress on the vein wall while maintaining effective bolus delivery
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional catheter tip geometry is used, then manufacturing is simple, but momentum transfer is inefficient and energy dissipation is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The holes are designed with asymmetric geometries including elliptical cross-sections and non-uniform spacing patterns, rather than symmetric circular holes in regular arrays. This asymmetry creates more effective turbulence and mixing in the discharged jets, improving momentum transfer and energy dissipation in the vascular system while remaining manufacturable with standard precision machining or laser drilling techniques
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 with reduced jet velocity and pressure, enhancing flow efficiency, minimizing vein damage, and stabilizing the catheter within the vein, while maintaining effective momentum transfer and energy dissipation.
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°.