Low-Profile Injectable Subcutaneous Vascular Port for Smaller Incisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vascular access ports require larger insertion sites and multiple stitches for placement, leading to increased scarring and prolonged patient recovery times.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile, injectable subcutaneous vascular access system with a port lumen matching the diameter and cross-sectional shape of the catheter lumen, allowing for minimal insertion site requirements and reduced stitching, along with a placement tool for subcutaneous insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional vascular access port is used, then the port provides stable vascular access, but it requires a larger insertion site and multiple stitches leading to increased scarring and prolonged patient recovery times
Solution Approach 1:
The port body is designed to nest within the catheter's outer profile, with the port's external dimensions matching the catheter's external dimensions. This nesting approach allows the port to be placed subcutaneously with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues, reducing the insertion site area while maintaining vascular access stability through the integrated port-catheter structure
Solution Approach 2:
The port lumen is designed with specific dimensional parameters that match the catheter lumen parameters (diameter, cross-sectional shape), creating a unified flow path. This parameter matching reduces fluid resistance while the port body's external parameters are optimized to minimize insertion site requirements, achieving both vascular access stability and reduced scarring
2Ease of operation
If a conventional port with larger insertion site is used, then the port provides adequate access, but it requires more stitches and causes increased scarring
Solution Approach 1:
The port body nests within the catheter profile, allowing the same insertion site to serve both the catheter and port functions. This eliminates the need for separate, larger incisions and reduces the number of stitches required, thereby minimizing scarring while maintaining full access capability through the integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The port body's external profile is designed to copy or match the catheter's external profile, creating a unified appearance and minimizing tissue disruption. This copying approach reduces the visual and physical impact of the insertion site, leading to reduced scarring while preserving complete vascular access functionality
3Loss of energy
If the port lumen diameter is made smaller to match the catheter, then fluid resistance is reduced, but the port body must be precisely engineered to maintain structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The port lumen parameters (diameter, cross-sectional shape) are precisely engineered to match the catheter lumen parameters, creating an optimized fluid flow path with minimal resistance. Simultaneously, the port body's external parameters are designed to maintain structural integrity while nesting within the catheter profile, achieving both low fluid resistance and engineering feasibility through coordinated parameter optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The port body and catheter are designed as an integrated, unified structure where the port lumen and catheter lumen form a continuous flow path. This merging of components eliminates interfaces and transitions that would create fluid resistance, while the combined structure benefits from shared structural support, reducing the overall engineering precision requirements compared to separate components
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to a low profile, injectable port system and associated methods of use. The port can define a port lumen extending between an inlet and an outlet and can include a needle penetrable septum or valve structure. The port stem can couple with a lumen of a catheter and optionally include a cathlock. The diameter, cross-sectional area or shape of the port lumen can substantially equal that of the catheter lumen in a relaxed state. Further the port lumen can define a straight axis and can be aligned with an axis of the catheter lumen. As such, the port can reduce fluid flow resistance between the port and the catheter. The outer profile of the port can substantially equal that of the catheter outer profile. As such, placing the port subcutaneously can require a smaller incision site, improving recovery times and aesthetics.