Polyurethane Catheter Fixing with UV Adhesive for Drug Infusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulin infusion sets face challenges with Teflon catheters, including adhesion issues, high manufacturing costs, complex assembly procedures, and incomplete sealing, leading to difficulties in precise positioning of air holes and increased time for assembly and use.
Innovation Solution
A drug infusion set using a polyurethane catheter fixed with ultraviolet-curable adhesive, featuring a simplified structure with integrated flow paths and sealing members, allowing for easy assembly and reduced manufacturing costs, and improved sealing through integral molding and precise positioning of air discharge holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If Teflon material is used for catheter, then the catheter can be inserted into the patient's body and move flexibly, but the adhesion is not achieved and it either slips or the Teflon is removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a disposable catheter that is pre-attached to the injection needle. The catheter is designed for single-use only, eliminating the need for reliable re-attachment after removal. This disposable approach resolves the adhesion problem by making the catheter-introducer assembly a single integrated unit that is discarded after one use.
2Reliability
If a structure with connection member, funnel-type insertion unit, and catheter is provided without adhesive, then the Teflon material can be fixed, but the number of parts is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the catheter, introducer, and injection needle into a single integrated assembly. The catheter is pre-attached to the introducer, which is then attached to the injection needle, forming one unified device that simplifies the procedure and reduces the number of separate components the user must handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is pre-attached to the introducer before use, and the introducer is pre-attached to the injection needle. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for the user to perform complex assembly steps during the procedure, reducing both complexity and potential for error.
3Reliability
If the body is injection-molded to form a partition wall, then the catheter can be inserted into the body and fixed therein, but the manufacturing and purchasing costs are higher
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a disposable catheter-introducer-needle assembly that is manufactured as a complete unit. This approach eliminates the need for expensive injection-molded partition walls in reusable devices, as the entire assembly is discarded after single use, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliable catheter fixation.
4Ease of operation
If circumferential groove and injection groove are formed on the connecting member, then the drug can be injected into the body, but the manufacturing precision and assembly difficulty are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the catheter, introducer, and injection needle into a pre-assembled unit with integrated flow paths. This merging eliminates the need for precise groove formation and positioning on separate connecting members, as the drug flow path is established through the continuous lumen of the integrated assembly.
5Device complexity
If the sealing member is disposed to be in close contact with the inside of the connecting member, then the structure is compact, but the sealing is incomplete and air cannot be completely removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the catheter, introducer, and injection needle into a single integrated assembly with continuous internal lumens. This integration creates inherent sealing at the junctions, eliminating the need for separate sealing members and ensuring complete air removal through the continuous fluid path from the injection needle through the catheter.
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 enables efficient and cost-effective administration of drugs with reduced procedural steps, lower manufacturing costs, and enhanced sealing, ensuring complete air removal and stable drug delivery without multiple injections.
Implementation Method 1
a catheter, which is inserted into the catheter insertion unit and is formed such that the guide needle is allowed to be separated while surrounding the lower outer circumferential surface of the guide needle; and a flow path, in which the catheter consists of polyurethane, and the adhesive , which is injected from the adhesive space of the catheter insertion unit, is cured by ultraviolet rays to fix the catheter
Data Source
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AI summary
A drug infusion set is provided, in which a catheter fixing unit and a drug infusion unit are mounted/unmounted, the catheter fixing unit includes a body member, which includes a guide unit, in which a receiving space is formed in a downward direction from an upper surface; a drug injection unit, in which an accommodation space is formed in a horizontal direction from the other side to communicate with the guide unit, and into which the drug infusion unit is inserted; and a catheter insertion unit, which extends in a downward direction of the guide unit; a guided insertion member, which is provided with a guide needle, inserted into the guide unit; first and second sealing members, which are inserted into the accommodation space of the guide unit and the drug injection unit; and a catheter, which is inserted into the catheter insertion unit.