Fluid Dispersal Cap Design for Small-Vessel Injectate Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Delivering injectates to small diameter vessels is challenging due to limited vessel sizes, downstream branching, vessel branches in sequence, differing flow resistance, irregular deposition patterns, sedation requirements, vasospasm, and catheter positioning inconsistency, particularly in areas like cerebral and prostatic arteries, leading to non-target delivery and potential negative consequences.
Innovation Solution
A dispersion catheter system with a fluid dispersal cap that redirects fluid flow from the centerline to a radial direction, enhancing dispersion and reducing reflux, using a catheter shaft with a small diameter and a fluid dispersal cap attached to the tip or shaft, featuring side flow ports and internal conduits to distribute the injectate evenly along the vessel walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional catheter is used to deliver injectate to small diameter vessels, then the catheter can be positioned in the vessel, but the injectate delivery results in irregular deposition patterns and non-target delivery due to limited dispersion
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip is divided into multiple segments with separate flow channels, allowing the injectate to be delivered through multiple discrete outlets rather than a single opening. This segmentation creates multiple injection points that distribute the injectate more evenly along the vessel wall, improving deposition precision and reducing non-target delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the catheter tip are designed with different flow characteristics and outlet configurations to address local variations in flow resistance and vessel geometry. Each segment can be optimized for its specific location, with varying channel sizes, angles, and orientations to achieve uniform injectate distribution across different regions of the vessel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the catheter shaft diameter is reduced to match small vessel sizes, then the catheter can access more vessels, but the injectate dispersion capability is limited due to the small opening area
Solution Approach 1:
The single large opening at the catheter tip is segmented into multiple smaller openings distributed across the tip surface. This allows the catheter to maintain a small overall diameter for vessel compatibility while creating multiple discrete flow outlets that collectively provide adequate dispersion area for effective injectate distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The injectate delivery is transitioned from a single-point injection to a distributed multi-point injection across the catheter tip surface. By utilizing the radial dimension of the catheter tip, the system achieves enhanced dispersion without increasing the longitudinal or cross-sectional dimensions of the catheter shaft.
3Measurement precision
If the catheter is designed for precise positioning, then target accuracy is improved, but reflux flow occurs causing non-target delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip incorporates features specifically designed to address reflux at the injection site, such as angled flow channels and optimized outlet configurations that direct injectate forward into the vessel lumen rather than allowing backward flow. These localized modifications prevent reflux without compromising the overall positioning accuracy of the catheter.
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
Enhances injectate dispersion and reduces reflux flow, making interventional treatments safer and more effective by ensuring precise delivery to target anatomies, even in challenging areas like cerebral and prostatic arteries.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid dispersal cap can be configured to redirect a flow of fluid from a centerline direction to a radial direction
Implementation Method 2
Embodiments herein include devices that can enhance dispersion of an injectate with the blood stream
Implementation Method 3
Embodiments of devices herein can also reduce reflux flow
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to dispersion catheter systems and related methods. In an embodiment, a dispersion catheter system for delivering injectates to small diameter vessels of a patient is included having a dispersion catheter shaft defining a lumen and a dispersion catheter tip in fluid communication with the lumen of the dispersion catheter shaft. The dispersion catheter system can also include a fluid dispersal cap, wherein the fluid dispersal cap is configured to be disposed within a path of fluid flow coming from the dispersion catheter tip. The fluid dispersal cap can have one or more internal flow conduits, side flow ports, side flow channels, and/or outflow ports. Other embodiments are also included herein.