Foley Catheter Sponge Assembly for Balloon Fixation and Leakage Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foley catheter devices fail to effectively secure the balloon against the female patient's bladder wall, leading to potential balloon displacement and urine leakage, without addressing the need for enhanced patient comfort and infection prevention.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical sponge with a longitudinal split and integrated adhesive pads is positioned around the catheter tube to secure the balloon against the bladder wall, using antimicrobial and fluid-absorbent materials to prevent balloon displacement and urine leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional foley catheter is used without a cylindrical sponge, then the device structure is simple, but the balloon cannot be effectively secured against the female patient's bladder wall, leading to balloon displacement and urine leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical sponge is positioned around the catheter tube, with adhesive pads attached to the sponge that secure to the tube. This nested configuration allows the sponge assembly to be integrated with the existing catheter structure, providing enhanced balloon fixation without requiring a completely new device design
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical sponge acts as an intermediary element between the catheter tube and the patient's urethra/bladder wall. The sponge provides a interface that improves balloon stabilization while the adhesive pads serve as a mediator to secure the sponge to the catheter tube
2Reliability
If adhesive pads are integrated into the cylindrical sponge, then the sponge is securely fixed to the catheter tube, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive pads are pre-positioned and integrated into the cylindrical sponge during manufacturing, rather than being attached separately during clinical use. This preliminary action ensures reliable attachment while streamlining the assembly process by having components ready for immediate installation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If antimicrobial and fluid-absorbent materials are used in the sponge, then patient comfort is enhanced and infection risk is reduced, but the material selection and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical sponge is made from porous antimicrobial and fluid-absorbent materials that allow urine to be drawn into the sponge structure through capillary action. The porous structure naturally provides fluid absorption and distribution, reducing infection risk while maintaining manufacturability through established foam or sponge material processes
Solution Approach 2:
The sponge integrates multiple functional materials - antimicrobial agents combined with fluid-absorbent properties - into a single composite structure. This composite approach addresses multiple concerns (infection prevention and urine management) simultaneously without requiring separate components
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 solution provides secure balloon fixation, enhances patient comfort, and reduces the risk of urinary tract infections by absorbing leaked urine, while maintaining cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
A pair of adhesive pads is each positioned in the longitudinal split to adhere to the tube of the foley catheter thereby securing the sponge to the tube
Implementation Method 2
uses antimicrobial and fluid-absorbent materials to prevent balloon displacement and urine leakage
Data Source
AI summary
A foley catheter sponge assembly includes a foley catheter that has a tube and a balloon. A sponge is provided which has a longitudinal split integrated into the sponge thereby facilitating the tube of the foley catheter to be positioned in the sponge for securing the sponge on the tube. The sponge is strategically located with respect to the balloon to rest against a female patient's urethra when the tube is inserted into the female patient's urethra. In this way the balloon is secured against the female patient's bladder wall to inhibit the balloon from floating in the female patient's bladder. A pair of adhesive pads is each positioned in the longitudinal split to adhere to the tube of the foley catheter thereby securing the sponge to the tube.