Catheter Wavelength Conversion for Position Confirmation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter systems face challenges in immediately confirming the securement of the catheter shaft within a blood vessel and detecting when the catheter tip is no longer inside the vessel, often requiring complex equipment like cameras and monitors, and are cumbersome due to these limitations.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a wavelength conversion member at the catheter distal end that converts near-infrared light into visible light, allowing for immediate visual confirmation of the catheter's position within the blood vessel by emitting visible light when outside the vessel and ceasing to emit light when inside, thus eliminating the need for additional monitoring systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera and monitor system is used to confirm catheter position, then measurement precision of catheter position is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip is coated with a wavelength conversion material that changes color from invisible near-infrared to visible light when exposed to near-infrared irradiation. This allows direct visual confirmation of catheter position within the blood vessel through color change observation, eliminating the need for complex camera and monitor systems while maintaining precise position detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical detection system (camera and monitor) with a direct visual detection system based on wavelength conversion and color change. The near-infrared irradiation unit illuminates the wavelength conversion coating on the catheter tip, causing it to emit visible light when positioned correctly, which can be directly observed by the user without additional electronic detection equipment
2Device complexity
If visual observation of flashback is used to confirm catheter securement, then device complexity is reduced, but time lag occurs and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The wavelength conversion coating provides immediate visual feedback to the user about catheter position. When the catheter tip enters the blood vessel, the near-infrared light is blocked by blood, causing the coating to stop emitting visible light. This immediate on/off feedback mechanism eliminates time lag and provides reliable real-time confirmation of catheter securement without requiring complex systems
Solution Approach 2:
The wavelength conversion material acts as an intermediary between the near-infrared irradiation and the user's visual observation. It converts the invisible near-infrared light into visible light when the catheter is outside the blood vessel, and blocks this conversion when inside, providing a clear visual indicator of catheter position without requiring direct observation of blood flashback
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 immediate and visual confirmation of the catheter's securement within the blood vessel without the need for cameras or monitors, simplifying the system and enhancing user feedback on the catheter's position, thereby preventing complications during blood vessel puncture procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a wavelength conversion member is provided in at least one of the catheter distal end or the insertion distal end, and the wavelength conversion member includes a wavelength conversion material that converts near-infrared light into visible light
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter assembly includes: a tubular catheter shaft; and an inner needle inserted into a lumen of the catheter shaft, the inner needle including an insertion distal end surrounded by a catheter distal end which is a distal end of the catheter shaft in an initial state of the catheter assembly in which the inner needle is inserted into the lumen of the catheter shaft. A wavelength conversion member is included in at least one of the catheter distal end or the insertion distal end, the wavelength conversion member including a wavelength conversion material that converts near-infrared light into visible light.