Hydrophilic Coating for Subcutaneous Vascular Access Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The placement of vascular access systems is prone to complications such as trauma, infection, biofilm formation, and thrombosis due to skin stretching, scar tissue formation, and the introduction of pathogens during the procedure.
Innovation Solution
A subcutaneous vascular access system featuring a coating on its surface that transitions from a deactivated to an activated state upon immersion in a solution, providing lubricity for easier insertion and acting as a reservoir for active ingredients such as antibiotics to prevent infection and biofilm formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vascular access system is placed subcutaneously, then vascular access is achieved, but trauma, skin stretching, and scar tissue formation occur during tissue pocket formation and catheter placement
Solution Approach 1:
The coating is applied to the catheter and port components before the vascular access procedure. This preliminary application ensures that the lubricious and active ingredients are already in place on the surfaces that will contact tissue during insertion and placement, preventing trauma and reducing skin stretching before the harmful effects can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating acts as an intermediary layer between the vascular access system components and the surrounding tissue. This intermediate layer provides lubrication to reduce mechanical trauma during insertion and serves as a reservoir for active ingredients that protect the tissue from harmful effects during the procedure.
2Reliability
If a vascular access system is placed subcutaneously, then access is established, but pathogens are introduced leading to post-placement infections
Solution Approach 1:
The coating with active ingredients is applied to the vascular access system components before the procedure. This preliminary action ensures that antimicrobial and anti-infective agents are already present on the surfaces that will contact tissue and blood during insertion and placement, preventing pathogen introduction before infections can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The active ingredients in the coating provide preliminary anti-infective action by being present on the device surfaces before the procedure begins. This preemptive measure counteracts the potential introduction of pathogens during the placement procedure, preventing infections rather than treating them after they occur.
3Reliability
If a foreign body is placed subcutaneously, then vascular access is provided, but biofilm formation occurs on the implanted device
Solution Approach 1:
The coating with active ingredients is applied to the vascular access system components before implantation. This preliminary action ensures that anti-biofilm agents are already present on the device surfaces that will be implanted subcutaneously, preventing biofilm formation from the outset rather than allowing it to develop after placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The active ingredients in the coating provide preliminary anti-biofilm action by being present on the device surfaces before they come into contact with bodily fluids and bacteria. This preemptive measure counteracts the natural tendency of foreign bodies to generate biofilm, preventing the harmful effect before it can occur.
4Reliability
If a foreign body is placed subcutaneously, then access is established, but thrombosis formation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The coating with active ingredients is applied to the vascular access system components before the procedure. This preliminary action ensures that anti-thrombotic agents are already present on the catheter and port surfaces that will contact blood during insertion and placement, preventing thrombosis formation from the beginning.
Solution Approach 2:
The active ingredients in the coating provide preliminary anti-thrombotic action by being present on the device surfaces before they contact blood. This preemptive measure counteracts the tendency of foreign bodies to trigger thrombosis, preventing clot formation rather than allowing it to develop after implantation.
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 coating facilitates smoother insertion of the vascular access system, reduces the risk of infection and biofilm formation, and provides extended elution of active ingredients, thereby enhancing the safety and efficacy of the placement procedure.
Implementation Method 1
The coating can include a hydrophilic material... immersing a portion of the access port in a solution to transition the coating to an activated state
Implementation Method 2
absorbing an active ingredient from the solution
Implementation Method 3
absorbing an active ingredient from the solution
Implementation Method 4
eluting the active ingredient following subcutaneous implantation... eluting the active ingredient over a period of 48 hours
Implementation Method 5
The coating can include a lubricious and/or hydrophilic coating configured to reduce infection, reduce biofilm formation, and improve ease of insertion
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a subcutaneous vascular access system including an access port, a catheter, and a cathlock, and including a coating disposed on a surface thereof. The coating can include a lubricious and or hydrophilic coating. The hydrophilic coating can be transitioned to an activated state by submersing the coating in a solution. The coating can be configured to reduce infection, reduce biofilm formation, and improve case of insertion. Embodiments include active ingredients formed within the coating and/or can be included within the solution to be loaded into the coating when activated. The active ingredients can be configured prevent infection, prevent thrombi formation, prevent biofilm formation, or combinations thereof.