Implanted Catheter-Port System for Minimally Invasive Fluid Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for repeated fluid sampling, such as lumbar punctures, expose patients to discomfort, radiation, and medical risks, and are resource-intensive, particularly for tracking treatment progress in conditions like glioma and ALS.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an implanted catheter and port, with a pump for fluid sampling and delivery, allowing for repeated, minimally invasive access to cerebrospinal fluid, reducing the need for lumbar punctures and associated risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If lumbar punctures are used for repeated fluid sampling, then fluid samples can be obtained for tracking treatment progress, but patients are exposed to discomfort, radiation, and medical risks
Solution Approach 1:
A catheter is implanted in advance into the spinal canal, positioning the sampling device beforehand to avoid repeated invasive procedures. This preliminary action allows multiple fluid samples to be obtained through simple external access via a port, eliminating the need for repeated lumbar punctures and their associated discomfort and risks.
Solution Approach 2:
An implanted port serves as an intermediary device between the internal catheter and external sampling equipment. The port provides a safe, accessible interface that allows fluid sampling without requiring repeated penetration into the spinal canal, thereby reducing patient exposure to harmful factors while maintaining sampling capability.
2Measurement precision
If lumbar punctures are performed repeatedly, then treatment progress can be tracked, but medical resources are consumed intensively
Solution Approach 1:
The implanted catheter-port system is established once during an initial procedure, enabling multiple subsequent fluid samplings without requiring repeated lumbar punctures. This preliminary implantation significantly reduces the consumption of medical resources such as personnel time, equipment, and facility usage for each subsequent sampling event.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for efficient recovery and reuse of the implanted catheter and port infrastructure across multiple sampling events. Instead of discarding the access pathway after each lumbar puncture, the permanent implant enables repeated utilization, improving overall system productivity and resource efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If an implanted catheter system is used for fluid sampling, then repeated sampling becomes minimally invasive and comfortable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional segments: the catheter portion implanted in the spinal canal for fluid access, the port portion implanted subcutaneously for external connection, and the external sampling equipment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall implantation and maintenance procedures despite the system's comprehensive functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for sampling a fluid is provided. The system may include a port implanted in a patient and a catheter implanted in the patient and in fluid communication with the port. The catheter may enable fluid sampling from the patient and delivery of the fluid sample via the port.