Closed Suction Catheter With Inflatable Cleaning Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suction catheters used for tracheobronchial secretion aspiration and tracheal ventilation tube cleaning often introduce bacterial biofilm into the bronchial tree, increasing the risk of lung infection and reducing the effective lumen diameter for air passage due to biofilm buildup within endotracheal tube lumens.
Innovation Solution
A multi-lumen catheter with an inflatable element and a flow regulator that allows for single-handed simultaneous inflation and suctioning, enabling repeated use without detachment from the ventilation system, with a mechanical user control element to manage fluid communication between suction and inflation lumens, effectively cleaning the tracheal ventilation tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If suction catheter is inserted to aspirate tracheobronchial fluids, then secretion aspiration is achieved, but bacterial biofilm is carried deeper into the bronchial tree increasing lung infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by cleaning the endotracheal tube lumen with a cleaning catheter before inserting the suction catheter. This pre-cleaning removes bacterial biofilm buildup, ensuring that when the suction catheter is subsequently inserted, it does not carry harmful biofilm deeper into the bronchial tree, thus preventing lung infection while maintaining aspiration efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the catheter system into separate functional components: a cleaning catheter with cleaning fluid delivery and suction lumens, and a separate suction catheter. This segmentation allows the cleaning function to be performed independently before suctioning, preventing cross-contamination and biofilm transfer to the patient's lungs
2Productivity
If suction catheter is used repeatedly without detachment, then clinical efficiency is improved, but biofilm buildup reduces effective lumen diameter for air passage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by enabling repeated use of the suction catheter within the endotracheal tube through periodic cleaning operations. The cleaning catheter can be inserted and advanced to clean the lumen at regular intervals, maintaining patent airway passage and allowing the suction catheter to remain in place for continuous monitoring and aspiration without being removed, thus sustaining both clinical efficiency and adequate air passage
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning catheter performs preliminary cleaning actions at scheduled intervals during the period when the suction catheter remains in place. This preliminary maintenance cleaning prevents biofilm accumulation that would otherwise reduce the effective lumen diameter, allowing repeated use of the suction catheter without compromising air passage
3Ease of operation
If mechanical user control element is designed for single-handed operation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control functions into a single mechanical user control element with multiple positions. This single control element simultaneously manages the inflation chamber pressure, the flow regulator states, and the coordination between inflation and suction lumens. By combining these functions into one integrated control mechanism, the device achieves single-handed operation capability while the internal design manages the complexity through functional integration rather than separate controls
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 solution prevents biofilm buildup and reduces the risk of lung infection by maintaining cleaner endotracheal tube lumens, allowing for efficient aspiration and cleaning of tracheal ventilation tubes while maintaining air passage, thus enhancing patient safety and clinical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
configured to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in an interior of the inflation chamber during at least a portion of a transition of the mechanical user control element from the first configuration to the second configuration
Implementation Method 2
A flow regulator defines suction and fluid ports. A mechanical user control element is configured to mechanically and non-electrically set activation states of the flow regulator
Implementation Method 3
suction via a suction lumen... aspirate tracheobronchial fluids
Implementation Method 4
An input module is coupled to the cleaning catheter, and comprises an inflation module, which comprises an inflation chamber separate from the suction source
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning catheter (200) insertable into a tracheal ventilation tube (160) and an input module (156) are provided for use with a suction source (601), the input module (156) coupled to the cleaning catheter (200) and including (i) an inflation module (330), including an inflation chamber (335) separate from the suction source (601); (ii) a flow regulator (700), configured to assume first and second fluid-control states; and (iii) a mechanical user control element (320), which is configured (a) to mechanically and non-electrically set the fluid-control states, (b) to assume first and second configurations, and (c) to mechanically and non-electrically increase pressure in an interior of an inflation chamber (335) during a transition of the mechanical user control element (320) from the first configuration to the second configuration. The flow regulator (700), when in the first fluid-control state connects the suction source (601) and an interior of an inflatable element (588) of the cleaning catheter (200) in fluid communication to deflate the inflatable element (588).