Silicone Foley Catheter Cap for Urethral Erosion Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foley catheters cause urethral erosion and other injuries in male patients due to prolonged use, as they are not adequately secured, leading to 'Never Events' that are preventable but lack effective solutions beyond increased medical inspections and softer materials.
Innovation Solution
A medical-grade silicone Foley Catheter Cap that fits over the penis head, featuring an anatomically correct central hole for secure catheter insertion and alignment, reducing lateral pressure and preventing secretion buildup, which is inexpensive and dependable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a Foley catheter is used for extended periods, then urinary drainage function is maintained, but urethral erosion and tissue damage occur due to unsecured catheter traction
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone cap acts as an intermediary device between the catheter and the patient's body. It distributes the traction forces from the catheter across a larger surface area of the glans penis, preventing concentrated pressure points that cause urethral erosion. The cap's central hole properly positions the catheter while its lip structure secures the catheter in place, eliminating the harmful unsecured traction mentioned in the background.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the catheter is secured to prevent movement, then urethral erosion is reduced, but complex external securing devices and increased medical attention are required
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using complex external securing devices that require medical personnel attention, the invention applies local quality by designing a simple lip structure on the cap itself that engages with the catheter. This localized securing feature is integrated into the cap design, making it self-securing without requiring additional external devices or frequent medical interventions.
3Ease of operation
If the catheter tube is not properly aligned, then insertion is easier, but the tube bends or kinks causing improper drainage and potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The cap features an asymmetric central hole design that is specifically shaped and positioned to guide the catheter tube in the correct alignment with the urethra. This asymmetric opening ensures the catheter enters properly without bending or kinking, while still allowing straightforward insertion. The central positioning and specific geometry of the hole create a natural alignment pathway that prevents misalignment issues.
Data Source
AI summary
The Foley Catheter Cap molded from medical grade silicone to provide a stable base for the insertion of an indwelling “Foley” catheter so that tearing of the urethra does not occur. Since the head of a penis contains no sweat glands of any kind, there is no buildup of fluids beneath the Foley Catheter Cap to occur which thereby precludes an environment under the Foley Catheter Cap which could be conducive for infections to grow. Because of this the benefits of a Foley Catheter Cap for male patients required to have an indwelling catheter for extended periods of time greatly outweigh any latent risk while the omission of the proposed Foley Catheter Cap exposes male patients to the potential of the well-documented serious injury and follow-on reconstructive surgery caused by Ventral Erosion of the penis.