Nested Medical Catheter System for Sheath Collapse Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical devices require complex procedures involving the use of introducer sheaths and dilators to insert foreign substance removing catheters into blood vessels, which increases user burden and risks collapsing or kinking of the sheath during insertion.

Innovation Solution

A medical device configuration that includes a tubular sheath portion with a foreign substance capturing catheter and a treatment catheter, allowing both to be inserted together, eliminating the need for introducer sheaths and dilators, with anti-falling structures and a distal end tip that prevents blood entry and reduces insertion resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an introducer sheath and dilator assembly is used to insert a foreign substance removing catheter, then the catheter can be inserted into the blood vessel, but the procedure becomes complicated requiring the dilator to be drawn out from the sheath with a long guide wire

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion procedure simplicityVSAvoidnumber of accessories and steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sheath and catheter into a single integrated device where the foreign substance removing catheter is pre-loaded within the sheath. This merging eliminates the need for separate introducer sheath and dilator assemblies, allowing the entire insertion process to be completed with one device rather than multiple components that require sequential assembly and disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter is nested within the sheath in a telescopic configuration, with the catheter positioned inside the sheath's lumen. This nested arrangement allows the catheter to be smoothly advanced through the sheath during insertion and then extracted afterward, eliminating the need for complex dilator removal procedures while maintaining protection of the catheter during insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If a dilator is directly inserted into a catheter body without an introducer sheath, then the foreign substance removing catheter can be inserted into the blood vessel, but the dilator still needs to be removed with a long guide wire inserted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion speedVSAvoidprocedure steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sheath and catheter are merged into a single operational unit where the catheter is pre-positioned within the sheath. This combination allows the entire assembly to be inserted as one unit and then the catheter extracted in a single smooth motion, eliminating the need for separate dilator insertion and removal steps that require guide wires.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter is pre-loaded and positioned within the sheath before insertion into the blood vessel. This preliminary arrangement allows the catheter to be smoothly advanced through the sheath during the insertion process itself, rather than requiring separate steps for dilator insertion and subsequent removal with guide wires.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If traditional introducer sheath methods are used, then the catheter can be inserted, but the sheath may collapse or kink during the insertion process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesheath stabilityVSAvoidinsertion smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is nested within the sheath's protective lumen during insertion, allowing smooth advancement without external manipulation that could cause collapse or kinking. The sheath maintains its structural integrity throughout the insertion process while the catheter is protected within its confines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter is pre-positioned within the sheath in a controlled manner before insertion begins. This preliminary configuration ensures proper alignment and prevents the sheath from collapsing or kinking during the insertion process, as the catheter provides internal support and guidance throughout the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11298504B2Medical device

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 KAWASUMI LABORITORIES INC

AI summary

A medical device is configured to treat a body cavity. The medical device includes a tubular sheath portion, a foreign substance capturing catheter configured to be movable inside the sheath portion, the foreign substance capturing catheter having a capturing portion configured to capture a foreign substance inside the body cavity, a treatment catheter configured to be movable inside the foreign substance capturing catheter, the treatment catheter having a treatment portion configured to treat the body cavity. The medical device is configured to be inserted into the body cavity in a state in which the treatment catheter is set inside the foreign substance capturing catheter and the foreign substance capturing catheter is set inside the sheath portion.