IV Catheter Advancement Mechanism with Guide Wheel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current guidewire assisted intravenous catheters lack a familiar blood flash chamber and the ability for one-handed advancement of both the guidewire and catheter, which can lead to inappropriate placement and failed IV attempts, especially when using ultrasound imaging.
Innovation Solution
A built-in front wheel with a guidewire that allows for easy one-handed advancement of both the guidewire and plastic catheter, maintaining a traditional blood flash chamber and biomechanics similar to non-guidewire IV catheters, enabling the operator to use ultrasound simultaneously without putting the probe down.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a guidewire is used to advance the catheter, then the catheter placement accuracy is improved, but the ability to advance both guidewire and catheter with one hand is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the guidewire advancement mechanism and catheter advancement mechanism into a single integrated device. The guidewire is contained within a housing that includes a push-off tab, allowing both components to be advanced using the same hand position and finger pressure, thus maintaining one-handed operation while achieving accurate placement
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains the guidewire, provides a push-off tab for catheter advancement, and maintains the traditional blood flash chamber. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate devices or complex hand repositioning, enabling one-handed advancement of both guidewire and catheter
2Reliability
If a guidewire is integrated into the catheter system, then the IV placement success rate is improved, but the blood flash visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the guidewire from direct contact with the blood flash chamber by containing it within the housing structure. The guidewire is positioned to advance through the needle and into the vein without obstructing the blood flash chamber, allowing the traditional blood flash to remain visible while still providing guidewire assistance for catheter placement
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the guidewire containment housing, the blood flash chamber, and the catheter push-off mechanism. This segmentation allows the guidewire to function independently without interfering with the blood flash visibility, as each component has its own dedicated space and function
3Manufacturing precision
If ultrasound imaging is used for IV placement, then the placement accuracy is improved, but the operator efficiency is reduced due to needing to put down the probe
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed to be self-sufficient for one-handed operation, allowing the operator to advance both the guidewire and catheter using the same hand position that would normally be used for non-guidewire catheters. This eliminates the need to put down the ultrasound probe, as the device handles all advancement functions that would otherwise require the other hand
Data Source
AI summary
An intravenous catheter system including a housing, a catheter, and a guide wheel rotatably disposed in the housing and manually engageable by the user. The intravenous catheter system may also include a guidewire contained within the housing and moveable by the guide wheel into and through the catheter with roation of the guide wheel with one finger, and push off tab. The intravenous catheter system may be configured such that once the guidewire is in a vein of a body, the user may use the same finger to advance the catheter by use of the push off tab A blood flash chamber can be incorporated into the housing of the system, method or device to indicate engagement between the catheter and the vein of the patient, and indicate the timing of the use of the wheel to move the guidewire.