Negative Pressure Urinary Catheter with Bioelectrical Impedance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing venous congestion and fluid overload in the renal system, such as diuretics, are ineffective in improving renal function for patients with cardiorenal syndrome, leading to persistent fluid retention and impaired sodium and water regulation.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing sensors to detect bioelectrical impedance and a controller to apply negative pressure to a urinary catheter based on measured impedance, facilitating fluid removal and adjusting pressure to maintain optimal renal function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If diuretics are used to manage fluid overload in renal system, then fluid removal is achieved, but renal function improvement is ineffective for patients with cardiorenal syndrome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical mechanism of diuretics with a mechanical negative pressure system applied directly to the renal pelvis. The system uses a pump to generate negative pressure through a catheter, mechanically facilitating fluid removal and improving renal function without relying on pharmacological agents that prove ineffective in cardiorenal syndrome patients.
2Productivity
If negative pressure is continuously applied to urinary tract, then fluid removal is enhanced, but tissue damage and discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic rather than continuous negative pressure application. The controller activates the pump in cycles, applying negative pressure for predetermined time periods followed by rest periods. This allows fluid removal during active phases while minimizing tissue damage and patient discomfort during rest phases, resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful effects.
3Quantity of substance
If negative pressure magnitude is increased to improve fluid removal, then fluid overload management is enhanced, but risk of tissue damage and patient discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the magnitude of negative pressure based on patient response and treatment progress. The controller can modify pressure levels within a range (e.g., -50 to -200 mmHg) rather than applying a fixed high pressure. This dynamic adjustment allows optimization of fluid removal rate while minimizing tissue damage risk, resolving the contradiction between quantity of fluid removed and harmful effects.
4Reliability
If renal negative pressure therapy is added to existing treatment, then renal function is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be integrated with existing urinary catheter infrastructure and can work alongside conventional treatments. The pump and controller unit serves multiple functions: generating negative pressure, monitoring fluid removal, and adjusting parameters automatically. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated devices, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while maintaining renal function improvement benefits.
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 system effectively removes fluid from the urinary tract and improves renal function by applying controlled negative pressure, addressing the limitations of existing treatments for venous congestion and fluid overload.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor senses a bioelectrical impedance of the patient's body
Implementation Method 2
provide a control signal... to a negative pressure source to apply negative pressure to a urinary catheter
Data Source
AI summary
A system for removing fluid from a urinary tract includes: at least one sensor configured to detect signal(s) representative of bioelectrical impedance and communicate signal(s) representative of the impedance; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive and process the signal(s) from the at least one sensor to determine if the impedance is above, below, or at a predetermined value; and provide a control signal, determined at least in part from the signal(s) representative of the impedance received from the at least one sensor, to a negative pressure source to apply negative pressure to a urinary catheter when the impedance is below the predetermined value and to cease applying negative pressure when the impedance is at or above the predetermined value.