Multilumen Catheter Tip Prevents Particle Flocculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion systems face challenges in preventing particle flocculation during intravascular delivery, ensuring controlled and effective delivery of therapeutic agents, and minimizing the impact on vessel walls, particularly when introducing stem cells or other biologics into the vasculature.
Innovation Solution
An infusion system featuring a multilumen catheter with a separator and an inflatable valve to control fluid flow, preventing particle aggregation and coordinating blood flow with infusion rates, using a configurable balloon to regulate blood flow and a recollection chamber to slow fluid velocity, ensuring safe and effective infusion of biologics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single large passageway is used for particle infusion, then the particles can be delivered efficiently, but the particles may flocculate (clump together) during infusion
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple lumens (at least two lumens) instead of using a single large passageway. Each lumen has a diameter of 0.5-2mm, allowing particles to be delivered through multiple smaller channels simultaneously, maintaining infusion efficiency while preventing particle flocculation that would occur in a single large channel.
2Quantity of substance
If the passageway diameter is increased to accommodate particle groups, then particle delivery is improved, but the rate at which particles can be carried through is limited by the passageway dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple lumens work in parallel to increase the overall particle transport rate. While each individual lumen has a limited capacity due to its small diameter (0.5-2mm), the combined capacity of multiple lumens allows high-volume particle delivery without requiring any single lumen to be large enough to cause flocculation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a filter is used to prevent particle flocculation, then particle dispersion is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a separate filter component, the catheter structure itself is segmented into multiple lumens. This structural segmentation inherently prevents particle flocculation by limiting the space available for particles to clump, eliminating the need for additional filter components and reducing overall device complexity.
4Productivity
If the fluid flow rate is increased to maintain particle delivery, then infusion efficiency is improved, but the impact on the vessel wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
The total infusion flow rate can be maintained at efficient levels, but it is distributed across multiple lumens. This segmentation of the flow reduces the velocity and kinetic energy of the fluid jet exiting each individual lumen, thereby reducing the harmful impact on the vessel wall while maintaining overall infusion efficiency.
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 effectively delivers small groups of particles, reduces flocculation, enhances retention rates, and minimizes vascular impact by controlling fluid and blood flow rates, ensuring safe and effective infusion of biologics into the vasculature.
Implementation Method 1
a separator to prevent the particles from flocculating as they are infused or introduced into a vessel in the vasculature of a patient
Implementation Method 2
a configurable valve to regulate a flow rate of the blood in the vessel
Implementation Method 3
a recollection chamber to slow a velocity of the fluid medium
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~6
AI summary
A system for moving particles suspended in a first fluid, for infusion into the stream of a second fluid, includes a catheter with a multi-lumen distal separator. The separator is formed with a plurality of parallel lumens, wherein each lumen has a predetermined diameter. Importantly, the diameter of each lumen is dimensioned to sequentially receive particles therethrough, to prevent the particles from flocculating before they enter the stream of the second fluid. A recollection chamber in fluid communication with the separator allows for reconsolidation of the fluid after leaving the separator and for minimizing the damage caused to the vessel when the fluid exits the catheter. An inflatable balloon, affixed to the outside of the catheter, can be provided to regulate flow of the second fluid and thereby facilitate entry of the particles into the stream of the second fluid and increase retention of particles in targeted tissue.