Hemostatic Powder Containment Device for Vascular Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Catheter insertions and removals during vascular access procedures often lead to infections and air embolisms due to the risk of blood and systemic infections, which existing methods fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a powder containment device (PCD) with a central hole is used to surround the catheter site, filled with a hemostatic agent of salt ferrate and an insoluble cation exchange material, promoting blood clotting and creating a hostile environment for bacteria through pH manipulation and dehydration, thereby reducing infection risk and air embolisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a catheter is inserted into a vein or artery for fluid delivery and blood monitoring, then vascular access is achieved, but the risk of infection and air embolism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hemostatic agent is applied to the wound site before the catheter is fully inserted or removed, creating a protective barrier in advance. The powder is applied to the skin area surrounding the catheter entry/exit site before final securing, preventing contamination during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hemostatic agent acts as an intermediary substance between the catheter and the vascular system. It forms a protective barrier that mediates the interaction between the foreign catheter object and the body's vascular system, reducing direct contamination risk.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the catheter is left in place for extended periods, then continuous access is maintained, but infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hemostatic agent is applied preliminarily at the time of catheter insertion to create an immediate protective barrier. This preliminary action reduces infection risk during the entire duration the catheter remains in place, enabling extended retention without increased contamination.
3Loss of time
If the catheter is removed from the vein or artery, then access is terminated, but blood flow arrest and wound healing become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The hemostatic agent is applied before catheter removal to preemptively arrest blood flow and promote clotting. This preliminary action ensures that when the catheter is removed, blood flow is already controlled, and the wound site is prepared for healing, reducing procedure time and improving outcomes.
Solution Approach 2:
The hemostatic agent converts the potentially harmful effect of blood flow continuation after catheter removal into a beneficial clotting process. The agent promotes intentional clot formation at the wound site, transforming what would be uncontrolled bleeding into a controlled healing process.
4Ease of operation
If conventional catheter insertion methods are used, then the procedure is simple, but air embolism risk remains
Solution Approach 1:
The hemostatic agent is applied preliminarily to the wound site before catheter insertion or removal. This preliminary action creates a protective barrier that prevents air from entering the vascular system during the procedure, eliminating air embolism risk while maintaining procedural simplicity.
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 method significantly reduces the occurrence of infections and air embolisms by forming a protective scab and maintaining a neutral pH environment under the seal, while dehydrating bacteria and creating a complete air seal, thus ensuring safer vascular access procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The salt ferrate combines with blood to form a trivalent Fe+++ ion promoting blood clotting
Implementation Method 2
producing oxygen at the wound site for bacteria reduction
Implementation Method 3
the hydrogen cation exchange resin, and the low pH (∼2) environment (lower than the natural acid mantle of the skin) which it generates on the skin surface
Implementation Method 4
The surface dry powder is an extremely powerful desiccant, and is a hostile environment to any invading bacteria by means of dehydrating the bacteria
Data Source
AI summary
A method of reducing infections associated with vascular access procedures. A powder containment device (PCD) is preferably adhesively attached to a skin area, the PCD having a hole formed centrally therethrough adapted to completely surround the catheter wound site. The open cavity formed by the PCD being attached to the skin is filled with a hemostatic agent of a salt ferrate and an insoluble cation exchange material. The salt ferrate combines with blood to form a trivalent Fe+++ ion promoting blood clotting and producing oxygen at the wound site for bacteria reduction. The cation exchange material also forms a protective cover over the wound site as the trivalent Fe+++ ion is formed. Semi-occlusive pressure is applied against the hemostatic agent for a time sufficient to arrest blood flow from the wound site right after inserting or removing the catheter. The PCD and hemostatic agent are then covered with an adhesive dressing. The occurrence of air embolisms introduced around the catheter is also reduced after the hemostatic agent has interacted to arrest blood flow around the catheter.