Negative Pressure Vein Expansion Device for Cannulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intravenous cannulation can be challenging due to difficulties in vein expansion, particularly in patients with poor veins or those who are bleeding, and anatomical limitations, as well as in less-than-ideal conditions such as moving ambulances or poor lighting.
Innovation Solution
A device that creates a localized area of reduced pressure on the skin to facilitate vein expansion, allowing for needle or cannula insertion without a tourniquet, using a dressing with a pressure-reduction module and one-way valve to maintain the reduced pressure and secure the cannula in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tourniquet is used to expand the vein, then the vein expansion is achieved, but the device complexity increases and cannot be applied to certain veins (e.g., external jugular vein in the neck)
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the vein expansion function into two separate components: a pressure-reduction module that creates negative pressure to expand the vein, and a dressing that provides the physical barrier and adhesive surface. This segmentation allows the pressure-reduction module to be applied directly to the vein without requiring a tourniquet, making it suitable for veins in difficult locations like the neck.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-reduction module acts as an intermediary device between the user and the vein. Instead of directly applying mechanical compression like a tourniquet, the module creates negative pressure through a pump mechanism, which indirectly expands the vein by drawing blood into the area. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for tourniquet-like compression devices.
2Reliability
If a tourniquet is used to expand the vein, then the vein expansion is achieved, but the ease of operation decreases in moving ambulances or poor lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure-reduction module is designed to be self-contained with an integrated pump mechanism that can be operated manually or automatically. The device creates its own negative pressure without requiring external assistance or complex setup, making it easier to operate in moving ambulances or poor lighting conditions where tourniquet application becomes difficult.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical compression system of a tourniquet with a pressure-reduction system that uses negative pressure generation. This substitution of mechanical action with pressure differential creation simplifies the operation, as the pump mechanism can be easily controlled even in dynamic environments like moving ambulances.
3Reliability
If a tourniquet is used to expand the vein, then the vein expansion is achieved, but the adaptability decreases for patients with poor veins or low circulating blood volume
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the pressure parameter from positive compression (tourniquet) to negative pressure (pump mechanism). This parameter change allows the system to adapt to patients with poor veins or low blood volume by gently drawing blood into the vein rather than forcing it through compression, making it suitable for a wider range of patient conditions.
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
Enables effective vein expansion and cannula insertion in situations where tourniquet use is difficult, maintaining the cannula in place until removal, and can be reused or disposed of appropriately.
Implementation Method 1
means for creating a localised area of reduced pressure at a surface of the patient's skin, so as to facilitate expansion of an underlying part of the vein
Implementation Method 2
The pressure-reduction module may be adapted to then be reused with a different dressing, following sterilisation, or most preferably the pressure-reduction module is adapted to be disposable following detachment from the dressing
Data Source
AI summary
A device (10, 110) for facilitating insertion of a needle or a cannula into a vein of a patient, the device (10, 110) comprising means (20, 120, 220) for creating a localized area of reduced pressure at a surface of the patient's skin, so as to facilitate expansion of an underlying part of the vein, and means (26, 226) for enabling insertion of a needle or cannula into the expanded part of the vein.