Epidural Catheter with Integrated Pressure Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current epidural balloon treatments face challenges in accurately measuring pressure within the epidural space, leading to potential nerve damage due to variable epidural space sizes and shapes, as existing methods rely on fluid volume rather than pressure, and require separate devices for multiple treatments.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional epidural catheter equipped with a pressure sensor that measures and displays pressure applied to a balloon, allowing for precise pressure control and integration of medication, balloon, and RF treatments in a single device, featuring a fluid transfer path and RF electrode for reduced thickness and enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a standard amount of fluid is injected into the balloon based on average epidural space size, then the treatment procedure is simplified and treatment time is reduced, but the pressure applied to the epidural space may be excessive for patients with smaller or unusually shaped epidural spaces, causing pain or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a pressure sensor that provides real-time feedback on the pressure applied to the epidural space during balloon inflation. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor pressure levels and adjust fluid injection accordingly, preventing excessive pressure that could cause damage while maintaining treatment efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical estimation method (based on fluid volume injection) with a sensing system (pressure sensor) that directly measures the physical quantity of interest (pressure). This substitution enables precise pressure control without relying on assumptions about epidural space geometry.
2Reliability
If separate devices are used for medication treatment, balloon treatment, and RF treatment, then each treatment can be performed with specialized equipment, but the treatment time increases and medical staff experience higher fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple treatment functions (medication administration, balloon inflation, RF treatment, and pressure monitoring) into a single integrated catheter system. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate devices and procedures, reducing treatment time and medical staff fatigue while maintaining the specialized functions needed for reliable treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is designed as a universal device that can perform multiple treatment modalities through a single insertion point. The catheter includes integrated components for medication delivery, balloon inflation, RF electrode functionality, and pressure sensing, allowing any combination of treatments to be performed without removing or changing the catheter.
3Loss of information
If C-ARM imaging is used to monitor balloon movements in real-time, then the position of the balloon can be visualized, but the capability to distinguish the size of the balloon or the force being applied is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect visual monitoring (C-ARM imaging) with direct pressure measurement using a pressure sensor. This substitution provides precise quantitative data about the force being applied to the epidural space, overcoming the limitations of visual estimation from imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor acts as an intermediary that directly contacts the fluid in the balloon to measure pressure. This intermediary provides accurate measurement data that bridges the gap between the physical action (balloon inflation) and the information needed (pressure level), enabling precise control.
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
Enables accurate pressure measurement and application, preventing balloon damage and nerve injury by adjusting fluid injection based on sensed pressure, while integrating multiple treatments into a single catheter, reducing patient burden and treatment time.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor that is equipped inside of the catheter and that serves to detect a pressure that is applied to the balloon
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a multifunctional epidural catheter being equipped with a sensor for detecting a pressure applied to a combined balloon. And, most particularly, provided herein is a multifunctional epidural catheter being equipped with a sensor for detecting a pressure applied to a combined balloon, wherein the catheter comprises a main body, and a catheter insertion part being connected to the main body and inserted in a patient's body, wherein the catheter has a combined balloon attached to one side of the catheter insertion part that is inflated when the catheter is inserted in the patient's body so as to expand an empty space within the patient's body, the multifunctional epidural catheter comprising a syringe connection part for a balloon formed on one side of the main body to protrude outside and having a syringe for the balloon connected thereto so as to supply fluid into the balloon, a fluid transfer part being formed inside the main body, having one end connected to the syringe connection part for a balloon, and transferring the fluid supplied from the syringe to be supplied to the balloon, a pressure sensor being formed inside the main body, contacting the fluid transfer part, and measuring a pressure of the fluid according to an expansion or contraction of the balloon, a display unit being formed on an external side of the main body, receiving a measurement value detected by the pressure sensor, and numerically displaying the received value, and an alarm unit generating a visual or auditory alarm when the pressure measured by the pressure sensor reaches a threshold value.