Macroporous Catheter for Selective Cell Recovery and Infusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheters are inadequate for accessing and sampling difficult-to-reach tissue sites, such as those with skin and soft tissue infections, and for delivering large molecules to less accessible body regions, often leading to delayed or impossible pathogen identification and treatment.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with macroporous regions, such as helical hollow wires, designed for selective delivery and recovery of materials like molecules and cells based on physical-chemical-biological characteristics, allowing for minimally invasive sampling and treatment by enabling the infusion of therapeutic fluids and removal of bacteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional catheters with microporous structures are used, then they can deliver fluids and molecules, but they cannot effectively recover bacterial cells or large particles from tissue sites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pore size parameter from microporous (conventional) to macroporous structure, enabling the recovery of bacterial cells and large particles while maintaining fluid delivery capability. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between recovering large substances and maintaining manufacturing precision.
2Productivity
If needles are used to aspirate tissue or fluids, then samples can be obtained, but tissue is entrapped preventing ingress of interstitial fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a macroporous catheter structure that allows interstitial fluid to pass through the porous walls while aspirating samples. This prevents tissue entrapment by enabling continuous fluid flow through the catheter walls, resolving the contradiction between sampling efficiency and tissue damage.
3Reliability
If fine needle aspiration is used to recover bacteria, then samples can be obtained in conditions of excess tissue fluid, but it is ineffective in normal tissue conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The macroporous catheter provides universal functionality by enabling effective bacterial recovery in both normal and excess fluid tissue conditions. The macroporous structure allows adaptation to different tissue conditions, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
4Duration of action of moving object
If conventional catheters are used for prolonged infusion of large molecules, then delivery can be maintained, but structural integrity is compromised in difficult-to-access sites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction combining macroporous regions with reinforcing structures to maintain structural integrity while enabling prolonged infusion of large molecules in difficult-to-access sites. This resolves the contradiction between duration of action and strength.
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
Enables fast and accurate diagnosis and treatment of infections by allowing direct sampling and delivery of medicaments to inaccessible tissue sites, overcoming the limitations of conventional catheters in porosity and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
one or more macroporous regions adapted to selectively deliver and/or recover materials such as molecules and cells to and from the tissue site
Implementation Method 2
permit the infusion of therapeutic fluids (e.g., containing medicament) to the site, under corresponding conditions (e.g., the application of positive or negative pressure)
Implementation Method 3
adapted to both recover bacterial cells from the tissue site and permit the infusion of therapeutic fluids
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a catheter for use in delivering and/or recovering materials to and/or from a tissue site in the body, the catheter comprising one or more macroporous regions adapted to selectively deliver molecules and/or recover cells from the tissue site, based on one or more physical-chemical-biological characteristics. The macroporous region can be provided in the form of a helical hollow wires, and can be adapted to both recover cells from the tissue site (e.g., bacterial or other cells present in interstitial fluid) and optionally to permit the infusion of medicament to the site, under corresponding conditions.