Catheter Vent Plug With Porous Insert for Air Venting and Blood Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter systems face challenges in efficiently venting air while preventing blood leakage during and after catheter placement, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased risk of blood loss.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a vent plug with a single, small-diameter hole and an air-permeable plug, such as cellulose or polyurethane foam, that allows air to escape while minimizing blood flow, providing extended venting time for clinicians to perform subsequent steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vent plug with a larger opening is used to allow faster air escape, then air venting efficiency is improved, but blood leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an air-permeable plug made of porous material (such as foam or porous polymer) that allows air molecules to pass through while blocking larger blood molecules. The pore size is specifically controlled to be permeable to gas but impermeable to liquid blood, thereby achieving both efficient air venting and blood leakage prevention simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The vent plug combines multiple materials with different properties: a rigid or semi-rigid outer structure (such as plastic or polymer) that provides structural integrity and defines the opening geometry, combined with an air-permeable plug material (foam or porous polymer) that selectively permits air passage while blocking blood. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between venting efficiency and blood leakage prevention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a smaller opening is used in the vent plug, then blood leakage is reduced, but air venting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air-permeable plug made of porous material provides a large total surface area for air passage despite the small external opening. The numerous microscopic pores within the foam or porous polymer structure collectively offer sufficient cross-sectional area for rapid air venting while the small external dimensions prevent blood infiltration
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional opening area consideration to a three-dimensional porous structure. Instead of increasing the external opening size (2D approach), the solution utilizes the internal porous network (3D approach) to provide extensive air passage pathways while maintaining a small external footprint that blocks blood
3Productivity
If multiple holes are provided in the vent plug, then air venting is improved, but blood leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple potential air passage openings into a single integrated air-permeable plug. Instead of providing several separate holes that could each potentially allow blood entry, the solution consolidates air venting function into one porous element where the collective pore structure provides efficient air passage while the unified design maintains better control over blood leakage prevention
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
The vent plug design enhances air venting time, allowing clinicians more time to cap the plug and reduce blood leakage, thereby improving procedural efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an air-permeable plug disposed within a proximal end of the lumen
Implementation Method 2
the air-permeable plug may include cellulose or polyurethane foam
Implementation Method 3
a distal end having a hole. In some embodiments, the hole may be sized to pass air but not blood
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter system may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end and a proximal end. The catheter system may include a catheter and a vent plug in fluid communication with the catheter. The vent plug may include a distal end having a hole. The hole may be sized to pass air but not blood. The vent plug may include a proximal end and a lumen extending proximally from the hole through the proximal end of the vent plug. The vent plug may include an air-permeable plug disposed within the lumen. The air-permeable plug may include cellulose or polyurethane foam. The distal end of the vent plug may include a protrusion forming a stepped surface. The air-permeable plug may extend along a portion of the lumen or may extend along an entire length of the lumen from the hole to the proximal end.