Rapidly Insertable Central Catheter With Integrated Coupling System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Seldinger technique for introducing central venous catheters is time-consuming and involves multiple medical devices, leading to potential patient trauma and a high risk of contamination due to the number of steps and devices required.
Innovation Solution
A rapidly insertable central catheter (RICC) assembly that includes a catheter tube with sections of different durometers for column strength, an introducer with a cannula, and a coupling system allowing single-handed advancement, reducing the number of steps and devices needed for insertion and advancement through the vasculature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Seldinger technique is used to introduce central venous catheters, then the catheter can be advanced through the vasculature, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and requires multiple medical devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the introducer needle, guidewire, and catheter into a single integrated assembly where the catheter is pre-attached to the introducer needle. This eliminates the need to separately handle multiple devices and perform multiple attachment steps, significantly reducing insertion time while maintaining the ability to advance the catheter through the vasculature.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is pre-positioned and pre-attached to the introducer needle before the procedure begins. The assembly is designed so that the catheter is already in place and ready for immediate advancement, eliminating the need to attach the catheter to the guidewire during the procedure as required by the traditional Seldinger technique.
2Reliability
If the Seldinger technique is used, then the catheter can be inserted, but the number of steps and devices increases the risk of contamination
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the introducer needle, guidewire, and catheter into a single integrated assembly, the patent reduces the number of times different devices need to be handled and attached to each other. This minimizes the opportunities for contamination during the procedure while maintaining effective catheter insertion capability.
3Reliability
If multiple medical devices are used in the Seldinger technique, then the catheter can be advanced, but patient trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated assembly reduces the number of separate punctures and device insertions required. The catheter is pre-attached to the introducer needle, allowing for a single smooth advancement through the vasculature without the need for separate guidewire manipulation and catheter attachment steps, thereby reducing patient trauma.
4Ease of operation
If the catheter is made of low durometer material, then it is flexible, but it lacks column strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different durometer materials to different sections of the catheter. The proximal section has a higher durometer (greater hardness) to provide column strength for easy advancement, while the distal section has a lower durometer to maintain flexibility for navigation through vessels and patient comfort. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between flexibility and strength.
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 RICC assembly enables faster and safer insertion of central catheters with reduced trauma and contamination risk by providing column strength and a simplified, single-handed advancement mechanism, minimizing the need for multiple devices and steps.
Implementation Method 1
The catheter tube includes a first section formed of a first material having a first durometer and a second section formed of a second material having a second durometer less than the first durometer
Data Source
AI summary
Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. A RICC assembly can include a RICC, an introducer, and a coupling system configured to couple the RICC and the introducer together. A catheter tube of the RICC includes a side aperture in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, which opens into an introducing lumen extending from the side aperture to a distal end of the RICC. The introducer includes a syringe and an introducer needle having a cannula. The coupling system includes a distal coupler slidably attached to the catheter tube proximal of the side aperture. The cannula extends through a longitudinal through hole of the distal coupler, through the side aperture of the catheter tube, along the introducing lumen of the catheter tube, and through the distal end of the RICC when the RICC assembly is in at least a ready-to-deploy state thereof.