Flushable Catheter Assembly with Septum Activator and Air Vents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current peripheral IV catheter assemblies face challenges in allowing desirable flashback without risking undesirable blood exposure, often requiring clinicians to manually occlude veins and manage pressure, which can lead to positive pressure issues preventing flashback confirmation.
Innovation Solution
A flushable peripheral IV catheter assembly with a septum and septum activator that controls fluid flow, featuring a flexible or semi-flexible septum with a slit or hole that can be opened by a probe to enable fluid flow, and air vent channels to relieve pressure and allow flashback, while preventing fluid stagnation with flow deflectors and diversion channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the catheter adapter is attached to IV tubing before catheter placement, then blood exposure is prevented, but flashback confirmation is prevented due to positive pressure in the IV line
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter adapter is segmented into two separate components: the catheter assembly (with needle and catheter) and the adapter body (with hub and connection features). This allows the catheter to be inserted first, flashback confirmed, and then the adapter attached to IV tubing, resolving the contradiction between preventing blood exposure and enabling flashback confirmation
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter insertion and flashback confirmation are performed as preliminary actions before attaching the adapter to IV tubing. The design enables the catheter tip to be positioned in the vein and flashback observed through the hub window before the adapter is connected to the IV line, ensuring reliable confirmation while maintaining blood safety
2Object-affected harmful factors
If manual vein occlusion is used to prevent blood exposure, then blood exposure is reduced, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The need for manual vein occlusion is extracted and eliminated by designing a system where the catheter assembly can be inserted and secured without requiring the clinician to maintain manual pressure on the vein. The adapter design allows for secure attachment and blood containment without continuous manual intervention, simplifying the procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter assembly design enables self-contained operation where the catheter secures itself in the vein and the adapter provides inherent blood containment through its hub design and window configuration. The system performs its own blood management functions without requiring external manual occlusion, reducing operational complexity and time requirements
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
Enables selective activation of fluid flow, allowing for safe and confirmed flashback confirmation without manual vein occlusion, reducing the risk of blood exposure and positive pressure, and preventing fluid stagnation and coagulation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of air vent channels are interposed between the septum and the groove to permit air flow through the catheter adapter prior to the slit being opened. The air vents prevent buildup of positive pressure within the catheter adapter thereby permitting flashback of blood into the catheter and a forward chamber of the catheter adapter
Implementation Method 2
The probing end of the septum activator is advanced through the pathway of the septum when a probe is inserted into the proximal opening of the catheter adapter. As the probe contacts the contact surface of the septum activator, the septum activator is advanced in a distal direction through the catheter adapter whereupon the probing end of the septum activator opens the pathway in the septum
Data Source
AI summary
A flushable catheter assembly having features to enable selective activation of fluid flow through the catheter assembly is disclosed herein. A septum is placed within the catheter adapter of the catheter assembly and includes a pathway that is closed prior to being biased open via a septum activator also positioned within the catheter adapter. A plurality of air vent channels is interposed between the septum and the inner surface of the catheter adapter to permit “flashback” of blood during insertion of the catheter into a patient. The septum activator is advanced through the pathway of the septum as a coupler is attached to a proximal opening of the catheter adapter.