Fluid Exchange Catheter With Expansible Distal Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid exchange catheters face challenges in preventing or removing blockages, particularly in deep tissue pathology or bone structures, where existing methods are invasive and risk increasing intracranial pressure, inadequate clearance, and infection, with no effective method to clear blood from subarachnoid spaces with low patient risk.
Innovation Solution
A fluid exchange catheter design featuring a proximal and distal end with an obligatory lumen and an additional lumen, where the distal end of the obligatory lumen has a closed shape with expansibility around a lumen opening, allowing unblocking by altering infusion and aspiration fluid pressure, and optionally includes a mechanical device for deflection to loosen blockages, enabling stable fluid exchange without prolonged clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional irrigation methods and drains are used to clear subarachnoid blood, then blood clearance is achieved, but intracranial pressure increases and infection risk rises
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple lumens (at least two lumens) with distinct functions: one lumen for infusion and another for aspiration. This segmentation allows simultaneous or alternating fluid exchange operations, enabling effective blood clearance while controlling intracranial pressure by balancing infusion and aspiration rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system employs periodic alternation between infusion and aspiration phases, or simultaneous coordinated operations, to clear subarachnoid blood. This periodic action prevents sustained high intracranial pressure while maintaining effective blood removal, reducing both pressure-related harm and infection risk.
2Device complexity
If a single lumen catheter is used for fluid exchange, then device simplicity is maintained, but concurrent infusion and aspiration capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter design nests multiple lumens within a single catheter body, with at least one lumen positioned inside another lumen. This nested structure enables multiple fluid exchange functions (infusion, aspiration, monitoring) within a single device, maintaining external simplicity while providing internal versatility for concurrent operations.
3Measurement precision
If microdialysis catheters are used for tissue monitoring, then small solute exchange is achieved, but liquid exchange rate is too low for therapeutic applications
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter design provides different lumen configurations and opening characteristics at different locations. The distal end features controlled openings for tissue interaction, while proximal segments provide larger capacity for high-rate fluid exchange. This local quality differentiation enables both precise tissue monitoring and high-productivity therapeutic fluid exchange.
4Reliability
If catheters with moving parts are used for blockage prevention, then blockage-free operation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter employs self-cleaning mechanisms where the fluid flow itself, generated by the infusion-aspiration pressure differential, prevents blockage. The distal wall portion's expansibility and the coordinated lumens create flow patterns that automatically clear debris, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts while maintaining blockage-free operation.
5Stability of the object's composition
If the distal wall portion is made non-expansible, then structural stability is maintained, but unblocking capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter structure differentiates between expansible and non-expansible regions. The distal wall portion surrounding lumen openings is made expansible for unblocking capability, while the rest of the catheter body maintains structural stability. This local quality differentiation allows the expansible section to respond to pressure changes for clearing blockages without compromising overall catheter structural integrity.
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 catheter achieves stable fluid exchange with reduced risk of blockage, allowing simultaneous infusion and aspiration of incompatible drugs and removal of substances like blood clots, while maintaining low intracranial pressure and minimizing infection risk, thus effectively treating conditions like cerebral vasospasm.
Implementation Method 1
altering the width of the at least one lumen opening by changing the infusion and/or aspiration fluid pressure of the catheter, the infusion and/or aspiration fluid pressure being different from an outer pressure acting on the outside of the distal wall portion of the obligatory lumen
Implementation Method 2
the distal wall portion comprising at least one lumen opening in the lumen wall, wherein the distal wall portion exhibits expansibility in at least an area surrounding the at least one lumen opening
Implementation Method 3
controlling infusion and/or aspiration through the obligatory lumen for creating a non-linear motion of the fluid flowing through the at least one opening
Implementation Method 4
creating a non-linear motion of the fluid flowing through the at least one opening
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2e
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
According to the invention, a fluid exchange catheter is provided, which catheter has a proximal end and a distal end, and comprises an obligatory lumen having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the obligatory lumen having a closed shape, wherein a lumen wall of the obligatory lumen forms a distal wall portion at the distal end of the obligatory lumen, the distal wall portion comprising at least one lumen opening in the lumen wall. Furthermore, the catheter comprises at least one additional lumen having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being arranged inside the obligatory lumen remote from the distal end of the obligatory lumen such that fluid exiting the at least one additional lumen flows inside the distal end of the obligatory lumen. Here, the distal wall portion exhibits expansibility in at least an area surrounding the at least one lumen opening in order to provide an unblocking function for removing blockage of the catheter, any lumen can be adapted for fluid infusion and/or fluid aspiration, and an unblocking of the catheter is effected by altering the width of the at least one lumen opening by changing the infusion and/or aspiration fluid pressure of the catheter, the infusion and/or aspiration fluid pressure being different from an outer pressure acting on the outside of the distal wall portion of the obligatory lumen.