Ergonomic Catheter Handle Segmentation for Sterility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter connectors fail to adequately address sterility concerns and ergonomic issues during the attachment of catheter probes to patient interface units, leading to contamination risks and physical fatigue for surgeons, particularly in confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A novel catheter probe design featuring an ergonomic handle with a reinforced proximal section and strain relief distal section, allowing for single-hand operation and secure attachment to the patient interface unit, while preventing contamination and reducing physical strain on surgeons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the PIU is placed directly next to the patient to minimize catheter length, then the catheter length is reduced, but the space available for surgeon operation is reduced and ergonomic characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: a sterile catheter probe, a sterile handle, and a non-sterile PIU. The handle serves as an intermediary that the surgeon directly manipulates, while the PIU remains separated and draped. This segmentation allows the catheter to be kept short while providing the surgeon with an ergonomic interface through the handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle acts as an intermediary component between the surgeon's hand and the PIU. It provides an ergonomic interface for single-handed operation while maintaining sterility barriers. The handle includes features like reinforced proximal sections and strain relief distal sections that improve handling without requiring the PIU to be positioned close to the patient.
2Reliability
If the catheter connection procedure requires coordination between sterile and unsterile components, then secure connection is achieved, but the procedure complexity increases and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile handle and catheter probe are merged into a single pre-assembled sterile unit. This integration eliminates the need for surgeons to coordinate with assistants during attachment, as the handle-catheter assembly can be independently attached to the PIU while maintaining sterility. The merging reduces procedural complexity and contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle and catheter probe are pre-assembled in a sterile environment before use. This preliminary action ensures that the sterile components are already connected and ready for attachment to the non-sterile PIU, eliminating the need for complex coordination during the procedure and reducing contamination risk.
3Ease of operation
If the handle is designed for single-hand operation, then ease of operation is improved, but the structural requirements and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handle incorporates local quality enhancements specifically at critical areas: a reinforced proximal section for structural integrity and a strain relief distal section for protecting the catheter connection. These localized features provide the necessary strength for single-handed operation without requiring complex manufacturing throughout the entire handle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is constructed using composite materials that combine different properties in a single component. This allows the handle to achieve the necessary structural strength and ergonomic features for single-handed operation while simplifying manufacturing, as the composite structure integrates multiple functions into one piece rather than requiring assembly of multiple components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A handle for maneuvering a catheter, comprises: a handle body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a tubular passage extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end of the handle body. The handle includes a coupling mechanism at the proximal end and a strain relief sleeve at the distal end of the handle body. The strain relief sleeve is adapted to irremovably secure a flexible catheter sheath to the handle; and the coupling mechanism is adapted to detachably connect the handle to a patient interface unit (PIU). The handle body is ergonomically sized and shaped for grasping by a single hand of a user, and is configured to linearly engage to and disengage from the PIU via the coupling mechanism. When the handle is attached to the PIU, an imaging core moves linearly inside the tubular passage without bending.