Multi-way Urethral Catheter Clot Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-way catheters face challenges with clot formation and clogging, leading to patient discomfort, increased risk of trauma and infection, and resource consumption, particularly due to the need for synchronized operation of multiple openings which requires expertise or multiple practitioners.
Innovation Solution
A urethral catheter design featuring a drainage outlet, multiple drainage inlets, an instillation inlet with a branched channel that furcates into multiple instillation outlets, allowing for simultaneous and efficient distribution of instillation liquid and clot removal without requiring simultaneous actuation of multiple openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple instillation outlets are provided in the catheter, then the irrigation efficiency and clot elimination capability are improved, but the device complexity and operational difficulty increase due to requiring synchronized actuation of multiple openings
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter divides the single instillation flow into multiple separate outlets through internal channel segmentation. The instillation channel branches into multiple pathways, each leading to a separate outlet positioned at different locations on the catheter surface, enabling simultaneous multi-point irrigation without requiring multiple actuators
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple instillation outlets are merged into a single operational system controlled by one instillation inlet. The single inlet channel connects to multiple outlet channels through internal branching, combining the function of multiple outlets into a unified control mechanism that requires only single-point actuation
2Productivity
If multiple instillation outlets are provided in the catheter, then the irrigation coverage and clot elimination capability are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring expertise or multiple practitioners for synchronized actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation function is segmented into multiple outlets distributed around the catheter perimeter, allowing urine and instillation liquid to exit at different locations simultaneously. This segmentation provides comprehensive bladder coverage while maintaining simple single-point control at the inlet
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter design allows the instillation liquid to automatically distribute itself through the multiple outlets based on pressure gradients and channel geometry. The system self-regulates the flow distribution without requiring external coordination or synchronized actuation of multiple openings
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional catheters are used with clot formation, then the initial catheterization is simple, but the duration of action decreases due to frequent clogging requiring manipulation and interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is pre-configured with multiple instillation outlets positioned to cover different bladder regions. This preliminary arrangement of multiple exit points ensures that clot elimination can occur simultaneously from multiple locations, preventing catheter clogging before it occurs and extending functional duration
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple outlets enable continuous irrigation and clot elimination action without interruption. As long as one outlet remains patent, the system continues to function, providing redundant pathways that maintain continuous useful action even when some channels become partially obstructed
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
Facilitates continuous and abundant elimination of clots and bladder contents, simplifying operation and reducing the risk of complications by allowing a single instillation inlet to effectively irrigate the bladder and drain urine, even when clots are present, thus reducing the need for complex manipulation and resource usage.
Implementation Method 1
a branched channel having a portion with a single way connecting to the instillation inlet and several portions each connecting to an instillation outlet... such that instillation liquid injected in the instillation inlet is furcated and ejected from each of the instillation outlets
Implementation Method 2
a drainage outlet (5), a drainage channel (11) and one or more drainage inlets (4), the drainage channel (11) connecting the drainage outlet (5) and the drainage inlet (4)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is enclosed in the area of multi-way bladder catheters, which are suitable for draining urine and/or blood and/or instillation liquid from the bladder of a patient. It refers to a bladder catheter (1) with a drainage outlet (5), a drainage channel (11) and drainage inlets (4), the drainage channel (11) connecting the drainage outlet (5) and the drainage inlets (4), and an instillation inlet (2), a branched channel (12) and more than one instillation outlets (3), the branched channel (12) having a portion with a single way connecting to the instillation inlet (2) and several portions each connecting to the instillation outlets (3), wherein the portion with a single way is furcated to each of the several portions connecting to an instillation outlet (3), such that instillation liquid injected in the instillation inlet (2) is furcated and ejected from each of the instillation outlets (3). It guarantees that no change of procedure is required for a practitioner, in a simplified manner.