Deformable Catheter Imaging Assembly with Bending Axis Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures for positioning catheters, such as nasogastric feeding tubes, rely on costly and time-consuming x-ray imaging to ensure accurate placement, which is repeated due to the risk of catheter migration, and repeated exposure to x-ray radiation is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A feeding tube assembly with an integrated imaging assembly that is deformable and includes a marking to indicate the bending axis, allowing for pre-bending to navigate sharp turns within the body, such as the nasopharynx, and a method for packaging the tube to maintain this shape, reducing the need for repeated imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If x-ray imaging procedures are used to confirm accurate positioning of a feeding tube, then placement accuracy can be verified, but the procedure becomes expensive and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the x-ray imaging system (electromagnetic radiation-based measurement system) with a mechanical deformation system. The imaging assembly is designed to deform preferentially along a bending axis when encountering anatomical structures, and markings on the assembly provide visual indication of this deformation. This mechanical deformation and visual marking system substitutes for the expensive and time-consuming x-ray imaging procedure, allowing verification of proper tube placement and navigation without radiation exposure.
2Reliability
If x-ray imaging procedures are repeated periodically to ensure feeding tube has not migrated, then positioning accuracy can be maintained, but repeated exposure to x-ray radiation is not preferred
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging assembly serves itself by providing built-in visual indicators (markings) that show its orientation and deformation status. The markings are configured to indicate the bending axis and deform with the assembly, providing self-verification of proper positioning and migration detection without requiring external x-ray imaging. This self-service capability eliminates the need for repeated radiation exposure while maintaining reliable positioning verification.
3Ease of operation
If the imaging assembly is made deformable to navigate sharp turns within the body, then ease of insertion is improved, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging assembly incorporates local quality variations through its deformable circuit element construction. The circuit element has different structural properties at different locations - it is designed to be preferentially deformable along the bending axis while maintaining rigidity in other directions. This localized deformation capability allows the assembly to navigate sharp anatomical turns (improving ease of insertion) while maintaining overall structural integrity and stability through its constrained deformation characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A feeding tube assembly having a feeding tube, an imaging assembly having a rigid axis and a bending axis transversely oriented relative to the rigid axis is disclosed. The imaging assembly can be preferentially deformable along the bending axis relative to the rigid axis. A marking disposed on at least one of the imaging assembly and the feeding tube can provide an indication of the bending axis. A packaging comprising a curvilinear cavity and a circular cavity can respectively contain the imaging assembly and the feeding tube, in a coiled configuration, which induces the feeding tube assembly into a pre-set, arcuate shape.