Reusable Urinary Catheter Kits for Sterilization and Lubrication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reusable urinary catheters face challenges in effective sterilization and lubrication, leading to increased risk of infections and discomfort during use, and generate significant waste due to single-use disposal.
Innovation Solution
A reusable urinary catheter kit containing a catheter and a medium comprising chlorine-based species such as hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite salts, or chlorine dioxide for effective sterilization and lubrication, maintaining catheter lubricity and sterility even after multiple uses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If reusable catheters are used, then waste is reduced, but effective sterilization and lubrication are difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sterile water socket as an intermediary component that facilitates both sterilization and lubrication. The socket contains sterile water that can be exchanged periodically, serving as a mediator between the catheter and the external environment. This allows the catheter to be reused while maintaining sterility and lubrication without requiring complex sterilization processes or lubrication systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the catheter surface by coating it with hydrophilic material, which alters its interaction with water and urine. This hydrophilic coating maintains lubrication by allowing water to spread evenly across the surface, preventing sticking while also facilitating easy sterilization through simple water-based cleaning processes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If frequent re-sterilization and re-lubrication are performed, then infection risk is reduced, but device complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile water socket is designed to be self-contained and automatically provides both sterilization and lubrication functions. The socket's sterile water reservoir automatically supplies sterile water to the catheter tip, eliminating the need for separate sterilization and lubrication steps. Users simply need to exchange the water socket periodically rather than performing complex sterilization procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sterilization and lubrication functions into a single integrated component - the sterile water socket. This single component simultaneously provides sterile water for infection prevention and lubrication for comfortable catheterization, eliminating the need for separate sterilization and lubrication systems and reducing overall device complexity.
3Reliability
If single-use catheters are used, then sterilization and lubrication issues are avoided, but waste generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is pre-coated with hydrophilic material during manufacturing, which preliminarily establishes the lubrication properties before use. This pre-applied coating ensures that the catheter maintains lubrication throughout its reusable life without requiring repeated application of lubricants, enabling safe reuse while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire catheter assembly after single use, the patent allows recovery and reuse of the catheter body. The only component that is discarded or replaced is the sterile water socket, which can be easily exchanged. This selective replacement approach reduces waste significantly compared to discarding the entire catheter system.
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 kit allows for safe and effective reuse of catheters with reduced infection risk and minimal discomfort, extending the catheter's lifespan without frequent re-sterilization and re-lubrication, while maintaining ease of insertion and removal.
Implementation Method 1
a medium comprising at least one species independently chosen from: hypochlorous acid, at least one hypochlorite salt, chlorine dioxide, and combinations thereof
Implementation Method 2
The catheter comprises a hollow polymeric tubular body comprising a base polymer and a hydrophilic additive
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a reusable urinary catheter kit comprising a container comprising: a urinary catheter; and a medium comprising at least one species independently chosen from: hypochlorous acid, at least one hypochlorite salt, chlorine dioxide, and combinations thereof. The invention further provides a method of sterilising and/or lubricating a reusable urinary catheter using at least one species independently chosen from: hypochlorous acid, at least one hypochlorite salt, chlorine dioxide, and combinations thereof.