Permeable Support Catheter for Negative-Pressure Urine Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices are inadequate in effectively removing urine from the urinary tract, particularly in conditions of fluid retention and venous congestion, leading to impaired renal function and conditions like prerenal Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease.

Innovation Solution

A fluid collection catheter with a permeable tissue support is deployed in the urinary tract to maintain the catheter's position and induce negative pressure, facilitating urine drainage through a drainage lumen, using a permeable tissue support to maintain the catheter's position and enhance urine excretion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional drainage catheters are used, then the device structure is simple, but urine removal effectiveness is insufficient under fluid retention and venous congestion conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveurine removal effectivenessVSAvoidcatheter structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple functional segments: an elongated tube for drainage, a permeable tissue support for structural maintenance and negative pressure induction, and a drainage lumen for urine collection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, improving overall urine removal effectiveness while keeping individual components relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated catheter device: urine drainage, negative pressure generation, and tissue support are merged into one device. This integration improves productivity by eliminating the need for multiple separate devices while the unified structure manages complexity through functional consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If negative pressure is applied to increase urine output, then renal hemodynamics improve, but the risk of tissue damage or catheter displacement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveurine outputVSAvoidcatheter position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The permeable tissue support acts as an intermediary between the negative pressure source and the surrounding tissues. It distributes the negative pressure forces evenly across the tissue interface, preventing localized stress concentrations that could cause tissue damage or catheter displacement, while still allowing sufficient negative pressure to be transmitted to increase urine output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The permeable tissue support functions as a flexible membrane that conforms to the surrounding tissue geometry. This flexibility allows it to maintain stable contact with tissues under varying pressure conditions, ensuring catheter position stability while transmitting the necessary negative pressure gradient to improve urine production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Productivity

If a permeable tissue support is added to maintain catheter position and induce negative pressure, then urine drainage effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveurine drainage effectivenessVSAvoidcatheter component complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The permeable tissue support performs multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains catheter position by providing structural support, induces negative pressure to enhance urine drainage, and allows fluid permeability for physiological compatibility. This multi-functionality improves urine drainage effectiveness while minimizing the need for additional separate components, thereby controlling overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of manufacture

If the catheter structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then production cost decreases, but the ability to maintain negative pressure and position stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatheter manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidnegative pressure maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The permeable tissue support is constructed from porous materials that can be manufactured using relatively simple processes while maintaining their permeability characteristics. The porous structure allows the material to be produced cost-effectively through techniques like sintering or foam formation, while still providing the necessary mechanical properties for position stability and negative pressure maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 solution increases urine output, reduces sodium and water re-absorption, improves renal hemodynamics, and alleviates venous congestion, potentially preventing or reducing AKI and chronic kidney disease progression.

Implementation Method 1

a permeable tissue support directly or indirectly connected to and extending axially and/or radially from the elongated tube... configured to be deployed in the urinary tract to maintain the distal end of the elongated tube at a predetermined position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical support:

Implementation Method 2

inducing a negative pressure through the at least one drainage lumen of the elongated tube to draw urine from the urinary tract into the drainage lumen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative pressure suction: Suction

Implementation Method 3

the permeable tissue support defines a three-dimensional shape of sufficient size to permit flow of at least a portion of fluid from the urinary tract through the permeable tissue support and drainage portion of the sidewall to the at least one drainage lumen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP3614963B1Catheter device and method for inducing negative pressure in a patient's bladder
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 ROIVIOS LIMITED
  • EP3614963B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3614963B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3614963B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A catheter includes an elongated tube having a distal portion having a distal end and a sidewall defining at least one drainage lumen. The sidewall includes a drainage portion which allows fluid to pass through the sidewall and into the drainage lumen. The catheter also includes a permeable tissue support. The tissue support is configured to be deployed in the urinary tract to maintain the distal end of the elongated tube at a predetermined position in a bladder, a ureter, a renal pelvis, or a kidney of the patient. When deployed, the permeable tissue support defines a three-dimensional shape of sufficient size to permit flow of at least a portion of fluid from the urinary tract through the tissue support and drainage portion of the elongated tube to the at least one drainage lumen.