Vascular Catheter Tip Tracking Using Flow Parameter Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for vascular catheter placement are inaccurate and risky, often leading to incorrect insertion into arteries instead of veins, advancement into incorrect vein branches, or embedding against vessel walls, requiring costly and time-consuming verification with chest x-rays.
Innovation Solution
A vascular catheter location and navigation system using sensors to measure parameters such as temperature, light reflection, or sound reflection, analyzing flow characteristics to determine the catheter's position within the body, providing real-time feedback on correct placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical measurement of distance from catheter entry point to estimated location is used, then catheter placement can be attempted, but placement accuracy is poor and errors occur (artery instead of vein, incorrect branch, embedding against vessel wall)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback during catheter advancement by using sensors to detect blood flow characteristics, temperature changes, and other physiological parameters. The system provides continuous information about catheter position and status, allowing immediate correction of placement errors before they become dangerous. This feedback mechanism directly addresses the accuracy and reliability problems of blind placement methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical measurement method (physical measurement of distance from entry point) with sensor-based detection systems. Sensors detect blood flow characteristics, temperature, and other physiological parameters to determine catheter position, substituting imprecise mechanical estimation with sophisticated sensing technology that provides accurate real-time positioning information.
2Productivity
If blind placement with chest x-ray verification is used, then catheter placement can be performed, but additional cost and time are required for verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs verification actions during the catheter placement process itself rather than after completion. Sensors continuously monitor blood flow characteristics and other parameters throughout the advancement process, providing real-time confirmation of correct positioning. This preliminary verification eliminates the need for separate post-procedure chest x-rays, saving time and resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides continuous feedback during catheter advancement about position and status, allowing verification to be performed in real-time as the catheter is being placed. This eliminates the sequential process of blind placement followed by separate verification imaging, integrating verification into the placement procedure itself and reducing overall time and cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vein branches are available for catheter insertion, then insertion options increase, but risk of entering incorrect branch increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sensors to provide real-time feedback about the specific vein branch being traversed, detecting blood flow characteristics and other physiological parameters that identify the correct anatomical pathway. This feedback system allows operators to confidently select from multiple available vein branches while ensuring correct identification and avoidance of errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces anatomical knowledge and estimation with sensor-based detection to identify the correct vein branch. Sensors detect blood flow characteristics, temperature, and other parameters that provide objective confirmation of the selected branch, substituting subjective anatomical judgment with objective sensor data that ensures correct identification among multiple options.
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
Enables accurate and safe catheter placement by identifying vein vs. artery, correct vein branches, and avoiding vessel walls, reducing the need for x-ray verification and minimizing procedural risks.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor positioned at or in proximity to the distal end of the elongate body... the sensor is configured to measure at least one parameter of a fluid after the fluid is emitted from the one or more flow passage distal ends
Implementation Method 2
measuring parameters such as temperature, light reflection, or sound reflection
Implementation Method 3
measuring parameters such as temperature, light reflection, or sound reflection
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for vascular navigation, assessment and/or diagnosis are described which determine the location of the tip of a vascular catheter using the introduction of a medium with a measurable parameter (e.g., temperature, light reflection, sound reflection, etc.) and sensing and measuring the measurable parameter as the catheter is advanced. Measurements of the parameter are tracked over time, recorded and analyzed. The value of the parameter and/or the shape of the parameter value vs. time curve may be used in the analysis. For example, curve amplitude, variability, standard deviation, slope, etc. may be used in the analysis of catheter location.