Multi-Catheter Fluidics Manifold for Bubble-Free Fluid Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid management systems during medical procedures face challenges such as air bubble introduction, errors in fluid selection, and connection issues due to frequent disconnecting and reconnecting of tubing to catheters, leading to inefficiencies and risks.
Innovation Solution
A fluidics management system with an elongate tubular body and a valve manifold that includes ports for vacuum, saline, and contrast media, controlled by a processor to manage fluid communication and sealing force, and a hemostasis valve to prevent retrograde leakage, enabling seamless integration with multiple catheters for manual or robotic interventions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tubing connections are used for fluid delivery to catheters, then the system is simple in structure, but air bubbles are introduced and errors in fluid selection occur due to frequent disconnecting and reconnecting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fluid sources (vacuum, saline, contrast media) and control functions into a single integrated valve manifold assembly. This integration eliminates the need for separate tubing connections for each fluid source, preventing air bubble introduction and fluid selection errors while maintaining system reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve manifold acts as an intermediary device between multiple fluid sources and the catheter. It provides a centralized control point that routes fluids through sealed pathways, eliminating direct disconnect/reconnect operations between fluid sources and catheters, thereby preventing air bubble introduction while managing complexity through functional consolidation.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate fluid sources are connected to catheters individually, then each fluid source can be controlled independently, but connection errors and air bubble introduction increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fluid sources are merged into a single valve manifold assembly with integrated control. The manifold provides separate controlled pathways for vacuum, saline, and contrast media while maintaining a single connection interface to the catheter, thus preserving independent fluid control capability while eliminating multiple connection points that could introduce errors and air bubbles.
3Device complexity
If a single luer connection port is used for all fluid injection and aspiration, then the connection structure is simple, but fluid selection errors and connection mistakes occur during procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The valve manifold serves as a universal control unit that handles multiple fluid types (vacuum, saline, contrast media) through a single integrated interface. It provides multi-functional control capabilities including fluid selection, flow regulation, and aspiration control, thereby maintaining connection simplicity while preventing fluid selection errors through centralized managed pathways.
4Adaptability or versatility
If frequent catheter exchange is performed, then the procedure can adapt to different treatment needs, but the risk of air bubble introduction and connection errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve manifold serves as a stable intermediary hub that remains connected throughout catheter exchanges. It provides consistent, sealed fluid pathways that do not require disconnection during catheter changes, thereby maintaining procedure adaptability while preventing air bubble introduction and connection errors that would otherwise occur during frequent catheter exchanges.
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
The system reduces errors and risks by ensuring precise fluid delivery and aspiration, minimizing air bubbles, and enhancing the efficiency of fluid exchange during medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The valve manifold is configured to selectively place any one of the first, second and third ports into communication with the lumen while simultaneously blocking the other two ports from communicating with the lumen
Implementation Method 2
The processor may be configured to increase the sealing force of the hemostasis valve in response to the manipulation of the contrast control to introduce contrast into the catheter
Implementation Method 3
The first port may be configured for connection to a source of vacuum
Data Source
AI summary
A fluidics system includes a cassette having a saline subsystem, a contrast subsystem, and a vacuum subsystem. The fluidics system further includes a splitter and a first tubing set coupled to the cassette and splitter, the first tubing set having a single saline channel, a single contrast channel, and a single vacuum channel. The fluidics system further includes two or more hub assemblies, at least one of the two or more hub assemblies configured to have a third saline flow-path, a third contrast flow-path, and a third vacuum flow-path to provide saline, contrast and vacuum to the lumen of a catheter coupled to the at least one of the two or more hub assemblies. The fluidics system further includes a second tubing set having a plurality of tube groups, each tube group coupled to the splitter and to one of the two or more hub assemblies.