Resonant Flush Syringe for Automatic Pulsatile Catheter Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flush syringe designs require manual effort to produce pulsatile flow, which can be cumbersome and may cause discomfort to clinicians, and existing mechanical solutions often involve complex components or additional devices.
Innovation Solution
A flush syringe design that utilizes fluid momentum or resonance to generate pulsatile flow without mechanical interference, using components like rotating wheels with vanes or flexible tubes to induce pulsatile flow through fluid interaction, reducing the need for manual effort and complex mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual pulsatile flushing is used to clear bacteria from IV catheters, then bacterial colonization is reduced, but clinician discomfort and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The syringe system performs pulsatile flushing automatically through fluid dynamics interactions between the plunger and barrel features, eliminating the need for manual pulsating actions by the clinician. The system serves itself by converting continuous linear plunger motion into pulsatile flow through built-in mechanical features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical pulsating action with an automated mechanical system featuring interaction elements between the plunger rod and barrel that automatically generate pulsatile flow. This substitutes the clinician's manual mechanical effort with an engineered mechanical system.
2Reliability
If mechanical pulsating devices are added to generate pulsatile flow, then flushing efficacy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pulsating mechanism directly into the syringe structure by integrating interaction features on the plunger rod and barrel. This combines the flushing function and pulsating mechanism into a single unified device, eliminating the need for separate in-line pulsating devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The syringe design incorporates multiple functions into a single device: fluid delivery, pulsatile flow generation, and bacterial clearance. The interaction elements serve dual purposes of propelling fluid and generating pulsatile motion, reducing the need for additional specialized components.
3Ease of operation
If continuous flushing is used to maintain IV catheters, then operational simplicity is maintained, but bacterial clearance effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic pulsatile action within the flushing process by creating alternating high and low pressure zones through the interaction elements. This periodic disturbance to the fluid flow enhances bacterial dislodgement while maintaining continuous fluid delivery, combining simplicity with effectiveness.
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 design efficiently produces pulsatile flow with reduced clinician discomfort and lower manufacturing costs by leveraging fluid momentum and resonance, enhancing catheter flushing efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
A flush syringe design that utilizes fluid momentum or resonance to generate pulsatile flow without mechanical interference
Implementation Method 2
an underlying technical principle includes resonance of a flexible body due to the interaction between pressure differentials and turbulence as fluid flows around the body
Implementation Method 3
pressure pulses for purging catheter systems
Data Source
AI summary
A flush syringe for use in maintaining intravenous catheters, wherein the flush syringe can more efficiently and effectively flush the catheters by providing a pulsating, pulsatile, and/or pulsative flow of fluid that can be produced using momentum of the fluid moving. A steady force applied to a plunger while flushing can provide the pulsating, pulsatile, and/or pulsative flow of the fluid to the catheters.