Multi-Balloon Catheter Drainage for Residual Urine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter designs lead to issues such as residual urine volume, bacterial infections, blockage, and incomplete drainage due to retention balloons with large surface areas and inadequate drainage mechanisms, which are prone to biofilm formation and infection, and lack automated control for complete drainage and medication delivery.
Innovation Solution
A catheter design with multiple lumens, including a urine drainage lumen, balloon inflation lumen, medicine supply lumen, and pressure-sensing lumen, equipped with retention balloons of specific shape and a blocking mechanism, controlled by a system to automate drainage and medication delivery based on bladder pressure measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If retention balloons with large surface areas are used to sustain the catheter within the bladder, then the catheter stability is improved, but the risk of bacterial infections and biofilm formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple functional lumens (urine drainage lumen, balloon inflation lumen, medicine supply lumen, pressure-sensing lumen) that operate independently. The retention balloon is segmented into two separate balloons positioned at different locations, reducing the continuous surface area compared to a single large balloon while maintaining stabilization function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the catheter have specialized functions: the distal portion has drainage openings for urine removal, the central portion has the retention balloons for stabilization, and the proximal portion has control mechanisms. The retention balloons specifically have small surface areas localized at critical positions rather than covering the entire catheter length.
2Device complexity
If a single retention balloon is used to simplify the catheter structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but complete urine drainage cannot be achieved due to trapped residual volume
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a single retention balloon, the system uses two separate retention balloons positioned at different locations within the bladder. This segmentation allows urine to be drained from multiple points (above and between the balloons) preventing residual volume trapping while maintaining manageable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter incorporates multiple lumens operating in different functional dimensions: urine drainage occurs through the urine drainage lumen, balloon inflation through the balloon inflation lumen, medication delivery through the medicine supply lumen, and pressure monitoring through the pressure-sensing lumen. This multi-dimensional approach enables complete drainage while managing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If manual flushing procedures are used to clear blockages, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of maintaining clear drainage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The medicine supply lumen is pre-configured to deliver medications and flushing solutions proactively before blockages fully develop. The pressure-sensing lumen continuously monitors for conditions that precede blockage, enabling preventive intervention rather than reactive clearing.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system performs self-maintenance through automated medication delivery and pressure monitoring. The controlling device automatically administers flushing solutions through the medicine supply lumen when sensors detect conditions indicating potential blockage, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
4Reliability
If automated control systems are added to achieve complete drainage and medication delivery, then the drainage completeness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controlling device performs multiple functions through a single integrated system: it monitors pressure via the pressure-sensing lumen, controls balloon inflation through the balloon inflation lumen, regulates medication delivery through the medicine supply lumen, and manages urine drainage through the urine drainage lumen. This multi-functionality achieves complete drainage reliability while minimizing the number of separate control components.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-sensing lumen provides continuous feedback to the controlling device about bladder pressure conditions. This feedback enables the automated system to adjust drainage, balloon inflation, and medication delivery in real-time, ensuring complete drainage while using intelligence rather than mechanical complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to a system, device, and method for detecting and draining urine. The catheter uses at least two teardrop-shaped retention balloons and a balloon-blocking mechanism to allow efficient and complete urine drainage away from the user after urination.In another embodiment, urine is automatically detected by a sensor and drawn away from the user by a pump to a storage location.