Flexible Push Tab Deflects to Protect Dressings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IV catheter systems require two hands for insertion and configuration changes, limiting the clinician's ability to perform other tasks and potentially increasing the time required for transfusion. Additionally, these systems often have protruding rigid elements that can damage dressings or other medical devices.
Innovation Solution
The IV catheter system is designed to be inserted and moved to the fluid delivery configuration with one hand, featuring a catheter component with a push feature and a needle component with a grip and pull feature. The push feature is flexible and deflects to avoid puncturing dressings, allowing for single-handed operation and reduced risk of dressing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid protruding elements are used in the catheter system, then structural strength and stability are improved, but the elements can snag or puncture adhesives, bandages, and dressings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid protruding elements with a flexible membrane structure that maintains structural integrity while conforming to the patient's body contours. The membrane is made of flexible material that prevents snagging or puncturing of dressings and bandages, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while preserving the necessary structural strength through its taut, tensioned configuration.
2Ease of operation
If two hands are used for insertion and configuration changes, then precise control and stability are improved, but the time required for transfusion initiation increases and the clinician cannot perform other tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the stabilization function and the insertion/control function into a single hand-operable system. The catheter system is designed with features that allow one hand to simultaneously stabilize the patient's body part and perform insertion or configuration changes, merging two previously separate functions into one coordinated action, thereby reducing time loss and improving operational efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid elements extend outward from the wound site, then the needle position can be stabilized, but the elements can puncture or snag dressings that keep the needle in position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane that extends from the catheter system to provide stabilization of the needle position without the rigidity that causes puncturing or snagging. The flexible nature of the membrane allows it to move with the patient's body and conform to dressings, maintaining stability while eliminating the harmful puncture or snag effect.
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 system enables efficient one-handed placement and configuration of IV catheters, reducing the time required for transfusion and allowing clinicians to perform other tasks simultaneously, while also minimizing damage to dressings and other medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
The push feature may be formed of a flexible material that causes the push feature, in response to pressure exerted on the outer surface by a dressing securing the catheter component to a patient, to flex such that the outer surface deflects toward the cannula axis.
Data Source
AI summary
An IV catheter system may have a catheter component and a needle component. The catheter component may have a catheter hub, a cannula extending distally from the catheter hub, and a push feature extending outward from the catheter hub. The push feature may have an outer surface that receives contact from a digit to move the IV catheter system from an insertion configuration, in which the needle is within the cannula, to a fluid delivery configuration, in which the needle is outside the catheter hub. The needle component may have a needle hub and a needle extending distally from the needle hub along an axis. The push feature may be formed of a flexible material that causes the push feature, in response to pressure exerted on the outer surface by a dressing securing the catheter component to a patient, to deflect the outer surface toward the cannula axis.