Needle Catheter Placement Verification via Correlation Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices lack the ability to accurately differentiate between cardiac and non-cardiac pulsations detected by needles or catheters, leading to false positives and difficulties in determining catheter placement and functionality, which can result in delayed diagnosis and increased healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of two physiologic sources, such as an in-line pressure sensor and a finger pulse sensor, to perform correlation analysis of beats-per-minute and waveform cross-correlation, verifying the cardiac pulsewave and confirming proper needle or catheter placement and patency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single pressure sensor is used to detect cardiac pulsewave, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to false positives from non-cardiac pulsations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two independent pressure sensors (first pressure sensor in fluid communication with the needle/catheter, second pressure sensor as a reference) to detect cardiac pulsewaves. By merging the measurements from both sensors and analyzing their correlation, the system achieves higher measurement precision in differentiating true cardiac pulsations from non-cardiac pressure changes, while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
2Measurement precision
If correlation analysis with multiple sensors is implemented, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a processor as an intermediary that automatically performs correlation analysis on the signals from multiple pressure sensors. This intermediary component handles the complex computational tasks of comparing waveforms, calculating correlation coefficients, and determining cardiac pulse presence, thereby achieving high measurement precision without requiring complex manual intervention or overly complicated device architecture.
3Device complexity
If manual observation of therapeutic drug response is used to evaluate catheter function, then the device complexity remains low, but the loss of time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of cardiac pulsewaves through pressure sensor correlation analysis before administering therapeutic drugs. By establishing catheter functionality and proper placement through automated pulsewave verification in advance, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming post-administration observation periods (typically 20-30 minutes), thereby significantly reducing loss of time while maintaining simple device complexity.
4Productivity
If automated electromechanical motor systems are used for fluid delivery, then the productivity improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pressure sensors and automated correlation analysis to enable self-verification of catheter placement and functionality. The system automatically detects cardiac pulsewaves, confirms proper catheter positioning, and verifies patency without requiring complex electromechanical motor systems for fluid delivery. This self-service approach maintains productivity by ensuring accurate catheter function assessment while avoiding the added complexity and cost of automated infusion pumps.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method to enable clinicians to verify needle or catheter location within an anatomic site by relying upon combined sensing of two signals, such as a pressure signal and a heart rate pulse signal, in which the detection of a correlation between both signals is identified to confirm location of the needle or catheter.