Distal Catheter Support for Touch-Free Long-Needle Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional catheter insertion systems require repeated handling of devices, leading to potential buckling or kinking, especially with longer needles, and lack sufficient structural support during placement, necessitating different systems for varying patient sizes or manual clinician support, which increases infection risk.
Innovation Solution
A catheter placement system with a needle hub, catheter lumen, and a housing that includes a catheter advancement assembly and a distal support, providing slidable engagement and rigid support to prevent buckling or kinking, allowing touch-free placement and accommodating various patient sizes with a needle bending arm length of 7 cm or less.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a longer needle is used to access deeper veins and accommodate a broader patient base, then the adaptability and accessibility are improved, but the needle bending arm increases causing more flexion and reduced accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The distal support acts as an intermediary between the needle and the housing, providing structural support to the needle during insertion. This mediator component allows the use of longer needles for broader patient accommodation while maintaining insertion accuracy by preventing excessive bending.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal support extends in a direction perpendicular to the needle axis, providing lateral support that stabilizes the needle without interfering with its longitudinal insertion function. This dimensional approach allows the needle to maintain its bending arm length while gaining stability.
2Strength
If manual needle manipulation is performed to support the needle during insertion, then the structural support is improved, but the infection risk increases due to direct handling
Solution Approach 1:
The distal support is pre-loaded and pre-positioned within the housing, automatically providing needle support during insertion without requiring manual manipulation. The system serves itself by having the distal support engage the needle and provide structural stability throughout the insertion process, eliminating the need for clinician hand-over-hand support.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal support serves as an intermediary structure that transfers and distributes the mechanical loads on the needle during insertion, replacing the need for manual clinician support with a controlled mechanical support system that maintains sterility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different systems are provided for different patient sizes, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and the number of devices required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distal support is designed with universal applicability to work with needles of varying lengths and configurations, allowing a single housing design to accommodate different patient sizes and needle requirements. The distal support's geometric constraints and support mechanisms are optimized to function across a range of needle parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal support is configured to dynamically adapt to different needle lengths and insertion requirements while maintaining the same housing structure. The support mechanism can adjust its engagement characteristics based on the specific needle being used, providing optimal support without requiring multiple housing designs.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to catheter placement systems including distally extendable support devices. When placing elongate catheters advanced insertion systems are required to maintain a “touch-free” insertion. Further longer needles are desirable to access deeper veins or penetrate deeper surface tissues. Distally extendable support devices provide columnar support to one of the elongate catheter or the needle to prevent buckling or kinking of the catheter, and maintain the needle tip within a predetermined bending arm distance. This prevents the user from contacting one of the needle or the catheter directly to provide additional support, maintaining a “touch-free” insertion.