Fluidics Management System for Medical Catheter Procedures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid management systems for medical procedures face challenges such as air bubble introduction, errors in fluid selection, and inefficient catheter exchange, which can lead to complications during endoluminal or endovascular procedures.
Innovation Solution
An aspiration system with integrated fluidics management, featuring a valve manifold that selectively connects ports for vacuum, saline, and contrast media, along with a control system that adjusts valve configurations and hemostasis valve sealing force in response to human input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fluid management systems are used with manual catheter exchange and multiple fluid sources, then the system can handle various fluid delivery needs, but the risk of air bubble introduction and errors in fluid selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fluid sources (vacuum, saline, contrast media) into a single integrated hub assembly with a common catheter connection point. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate connections and reduces the risk of air bubble introduction while maintaining the ability to deliver different fluids through a unified interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub assembly is designed as a universal interface that can handle multiple fluid types (vacuum, saline, contrast media) through a single connection point. The manifold system provides multi-functionality by allowing selective connection of different fluid sources to the same catheter hub, reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fluid sources are connected to a single catheter hub, then fluid delivery flexibility is improved, but the complexity of managing connections and switching between fluids increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub assembly is segmented into distinct manifold sections, each dedicated to a specific fluid source (vacuum manifold, saline manifold, contrast media manifold). Each manifold has its own valve and connection point, allowing independent control and simplifying connection management while maintaining fluid delivery flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold system acts as an intermediary between multiple fluid sources and the single catheter hub. The valves within each manifold serve as mediators that control fluid flow from different sources, simplifying the interface and reducing connection management complexity while preserving adaptability.
3Productivity
If catheter exchange involves disconnecting and reconnecting tubing, then catheter replacement is enabled, but the time required for the procedure and the risk of errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hub assembly is pre-configured with multiple manifold connections ready for immediate use. Fluid sources are pre-attached to their respective manifolds with valves in the correct positions, eliminating the need for time-consuming connection and disconnection operations during catheter exchange procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated hub design maintains continuous fluid pathway connections during catheter exchange. The manifold system allows for seamless switching between catheters without requiring disconnection of fluid sources, maintaining continuity of useful action and reducing procedure time while minimizing error risk.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluidics management system includes a cassette configured to receive saline from a saline source, receive contrast from a contrast source, and receive vacuum from a vacuum source. The cassette includes a plurality of saline connectors, each of the plurality of saline connectors configured to couple to one of a plurality of catheters to provide saline thereto, a plurality of contrast connectors, each of the plurality of contrast connectors configured to couple to one of the plurality of catheters to provide contrast thereto, and a plurality of vacuum connectors, each of the plurality of vacuum connectors configured to couple to one of the plurality of catheters to provide vacuum thereto.