Intermittent Catheter Wetting Chamber With Movable Inserter Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter systems face issues with inconsistent wetting of the catheter tube, leading to difficulty in handling, reduced shelf-life, and potential user injury due to inadequate lubrication, especially when using packaging with limited wetting agent volume or mechanisms that do not ensure full wetting of the tip end.
Innovation Solution
A catheter assembly with an external housing and cap that includes a wetting agent storage chamber and a movable inserter tip, where the inserter tip moves between sealed and deployed positions to control the release of the wetting agent, providing clear feedback and ensuring complete wetting of the catheter tube in a single action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the catheter is submerged in wetting agent within packaging, then the catheter tube is adequately wetted prior to use, but other components (gripper element, funnel) become wetted making it difficult to hold and direct the catheter tube
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging is segmented into separate functional zones: a wetting chamber that contains the wetting agent and a separate catheter storage area. The catheter tube passes through the wetting chamber, allowing selective wetting of only the tube surface, while other components remain in the dry storage area and maintain their handling properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The wetting agent is localized to specific regions of the packaging - specifically within the wetting chamber - rather than being distributed throughout the entire packaging. This ensures that only the catheter tube contacts the wetting agent, while other components remain dry and easy to handle.
2Reliability
If the catheter is submerged in wetting agent, then the catheter tube is wetted prior to use, but the shelf-life is reduced due to long-term exposure of components to moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging structure segments the catheter components spatially, with only the tube portion exposed to the wetting agent in the wetting chamber while other components are stored separately in a moisture-free environment, preserving their integrity and extending shelf-life.
Solution Approach 2:
Moisture exposure is localized to the catheter tube within the wetting chamber, while other components remain in a dry environment. This selective exposure maintains the shelf-life of moisture-sensitive components while still achieving adequate wetting of the tube.
3Quantity of substance
If a rupturable container is used to release wetting agent, then wetting can be provided, but the catheter tube may not be fully wetted and the system requires user dexterity with no feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tube is pre-positioned to extend through the wetting chamber in a controlled manner before use. This preliminary positioning ensures that the tube is correctly oriented and fully exposed to the wetting agent when the container ruptures, guaranteeing complete and consistent wetting without requiring user dexterity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates visual feedback mechanisms such as color indicators or transparent packaging sections that allow the user to verify that the catheter tube has been fully wetted. This feedback confirms proper wetting has occurred, eliminating uncertainty about wetting adequacy.
4Volume of stationary object
If the wetting chamber volume is limited due to packaging constraints, then packaging size is reduced, but the catheter tube may not be fully wetted especially near end of shelf-life
Solution Approach 1:
The wetting agent is concentrated in a localized wetting chamber with optimized geometry that ensures complete contact with the catheter tube surface. The chamber design creates capillary action zones and contact surfaces that maximize wetting efficiency within a compact volume, ensuring full wetting even as shelf-life progresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The wetting chamber is designed with specific geometric parameters (surface area to volume ratio, capillary dimensions, contact angle optimization) that enhance wetting efficiency. These parameter optimizations allow complete wetting of the catheter tube within a limited volume, compensating for potential evaporation near the end of shelf-life.
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 system ensures consistent and complete wetting of the catheter tube, reducing the risk of user injury and improving handling, while maintaining sterility and providing mechanical feedback for user assurance.
Implementation Method 1
the catheter tube itself comprises, is integrated with or is coated with a hydrophilic component (e.g. a hydrophilic polymer) which serves to reduce friction further upon application of the wetting agent
Implementation Method 2
an outer surface of the catheter tube is typically wetted using a wetting agent prior to insertion by the user
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5(a)~5(c)
AI summary
A catheter assembly (1) comprising an external housing (10) and a cap (40). The external housing and cap form a cavity for housing at least part of a catheter (120). The external housing comprising a wetting agent storage chamber (70) defined by a chamber wall (9) and an inserter tip (15). The inserter tip (15) is movable with respect to the chamber wall (9) between a first position and a second position. In the first position the inserter tip (15) is retracted and is aligned with the chamber wall (9) to seal the storage chamber (70). In the second position the inserter tip (15) is deployed and is misaligned with the chamber wall (9) to open the storage chamber (70). Removal of the cap (40) moves the inserter tip (15) from the first position to the second position.