Conical Diffuser Tip for Catheter Recoil Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vascular access devices face challenges with rapid infusion of highly viscous fluids and large volumes, leading to significant backpressure and recoil forces that can damage veins and disrupt infusion systems, particularly during high-pressure medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A conically shaped catheter tip with a uniform bore and a splittable introducer needle is used, where the catheter tip diffuses the infusant, reducing exit velocity and recoil force, and is designed to accommodate higher flow rates without displacing the catheter or damaging veins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a tapered catheter tip is used to accelerate fluid flow, then infusion rate is improved, but backpressure and recoil force increase causing system failure and vein damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a tapered catheter tip that accelerates fluid (conventional design), the patent inverts the approach by using a diffuser tip that decelerates fluid. The diffuser tip has a gradually increasing cross-sectional area from proximal to distal end, which does the opposite of a taper - it slows down the fluid flow rather than accelerating it, thereby reducing recoil force while maintaining infusion capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the catheter tip from a tapered configuration to a diffuser configuration with specific angle ranges (5-15 degrees). By adjusting the diffuser angle and cross-sectional area progression, the patent optimizes the balance between maintaining sufficient infusion rate and reducing recoil force to prevent system failure and vein damage
2Productivity
If high flow rates are used for rapid infusion, then fluid replacement speed is improved, but backpressure increases causing pump failure and connection failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional tapered tip design and uses a diffuser tip that gradually expands the fluid stream. This inversion of the geometric profile allows high flow rates to be achieved while the gradual expansion minimizes pressure buildup and backpressure on the infusion system, preventing pump and connection failures
3Quantity of substance
If multiple infusion sites are used for massive fluid replacement, then total infusion capacity is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of the catheter tip geometry to enable a single site to deliver high volumes. By optimizing the diffuser tip dimensions and angle, the catheter can safely handle high flow rates (up to 10 mL/second or higher) through one infusion site, eliminating the need for multiple catheters and reducing operational complexity while maintaining the ability to replace massive fluid volumes
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 conical diffuser tip design allows for safer and more efficient high-pressure infusion by minimizing recoil forces, enabling the use of higher flow rates and reducing the risk of venous infiltration and catheter displacement, thus improving patient outcomes during procedures like CT scans and massive trauma resuscitation.
Implementation Method 1
the catheter tip diffuses the infusant, reducing exit velocity and recoil force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A catheter assembly (10) is provided having a conical diffuser tip (18) for use in rapid infusion procedures. The conical diffuser tip provides a flared opening whereby the velocity of an infusant is decreased as the infusant travels through the catheter tip and exits into the vascular system of a patient. This decrease in velocity proportionately reduces the backpressure and/or recoil force of the catheter assembly thereby permitting the use of higher infusion rates. The catheter tip is introduced into the vasculature of a patient via a splittable introducer needle.