Pulmonary Catheter with Hollow Insert for Compartment Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for lung diseases, such as COPD, fail to accurately assess individual lung compartments' functionality and collateral ventilation, making it difficult to target effective treatments and avoid unnecessary tissue removal during lung volume reduction procedures.
Innovation Solution
A pulmonary diagnostic system featuring a catheter with an inflatable occlusion balloon and a removable hollow insert, equipped with sensors to measure respiratory features, which minimizes dead space air and allows for precise characterization of lung compartments, including the presence and characteristics of collateral ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional imaging tests are used to assess lung disease, then the location and appearance of diseased tissue can be identified, but the actual functionality of individual lung compartments cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the lung assessment into individual compartment evaluations by introducing a catheter system that can isolate and measure each lung compartment separately, transforming the undifferentiated whole-lung functional testing into segmented, compartment-specific measurements that preserve detailed functional information
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system acts as an intermediary device introduced into the lung compartments to directly measure functional parameters (pressure, volume, compliance) at the compartment level, bridging the gap between imaging appearance and actual functional assessment by providing direct physiological measurements from within each compartment
2Loss of information
If conventional functional testing is performed on the lungs as a whole, then overall lung function can be measured, but information about individual lung compartment functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement system is segmented into separate catheter pathways that can independently access and measure each lung compartment, allowing the complex task of compartment-specific measurement to be divided into manageable, independent measurement channels that can be systematically evaluated
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system is designed with multi-functionality, capable of performing multiple measurements (pressure, volume, compliance, collateral ventilation detection) through a single integrated device, reducing the overall complexity that would otherwise require multiple separate diagnostic tools
3Reliability
If lung volume reduction surgery is performed without accurate compartment assessment, then diseased portions can be removed, but healthy tissue may be unintentionally removed or diseased tissue may be left behind
Solution Approach 1:
The functional assessment using the catheter system is performed before surgery to pre-identify which compartments are truly diseased and require resection, allowing the surgical team to have a clear roadmap of target compartments beforehand, thereby improving surgical accuracy without increasing intraoperative complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides detailed functional feedback about each compartment's health status and response to treatment, enabling continuous refinement of the treatment plan and allowing verification that the correct compartments are being targeted for resection while preserving healthy tissue
4Measurement precision
If implants are placed in lung compartments with collateral channels, then the procedure can be performed, but the lung compartment will not collapse due to air replenishment through collateral channels
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system introduces a test gas as an intermediary substance to detect the presence of collateral channels, allowing the clinician to identify compartments with collateral ventilation before implant placement, thereby adapting the treatment plan to avoid placing implants in unsuitable compartments
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 non-invasive, accurate diagnosis of lung compartment conditions and collateral ventilation, facilitating tailored treatments by providing detailed physiological data, thus improving the effectiveness and safety of lung volume reduction procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor that is in fluid communication with the insert and a pulmonary diagnostic device. The sensor is configured to generate measurement data reflecting a respiratory or physiological feature of a lung compartment
Implementation Method 2
A pulmonary diagnostic system with a pulmonary catheter whose distal end comprises an inflatable occlusion balloon
Implementation Method 3
the hollow insert reduces the inner diameter of the pulmonary catheter
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary
A pulmonary diagnostic system configured to measure one or more characteristics of a lung compartment is disclosed. The pulmonary diagnostic system includes a pulmonary catheter whose distal end comprises an inflatable occlusion balloon. The pulmonary diagnostic system further includes a hollow insert configured to be insertable and removable from an innermost lumen of the pulmonary catheter, wherein the hollow insert reduces the inner diameter of the pulmonary catheter. The system further includes a sensor that is in fluid communication with the insert and a pulmonary diagnostic device.