Rapidly Insertable Central Catheter with Retractable Needle
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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 assembly with a catheter tube having sections of different durometers and a retractable-needle device, which reduces the number of steps and devices needed by providing a single, efficient method for inserting and advancing the catheter through the vasculature, utilizing a sterile barrier and a coupling hub for blood flashback confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Seldinger technique is used to introduce central venous catheters, then the catheter can be successfully inserted through the vasculature, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and involves multiple medical devices leading to patient trauma and contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated device: the catheter hub integrates the introducer needle, flashback chamber, and catheter connection in one component. The catheter assembly merges the catheter tube, hub, and extension legs into a unified structure that can be inserted as a single unit, eliminating the need for separate needle, guidewire, and catheter manipulation required by the Seldinger technique.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter hub serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the introducer for the needle, provides a flashback chamber for blood visualization, serves as the connection point for the catheter tube, and includes extension legs for stabilization. This multi-functional design replaces the multiple specialized devices required in traditional techniques.
2Reliability
If the Seldinger technique is used with multiple medical devices, then catheter insertion is achieved, but patient trauma and contamination risk increase due to multiple handling steps
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is pre-assembled with the hub and extension legs in a sterile configuration before insertion. The hub is pre-loaded with the introducer needle and flashback chamber, eliminating the need to assemble or manipulate multiple devices during the procedure. This preliminary preparation reduces handling steps and contamination risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex multi-device Seldinger procedure and replaces it with a single integrated catheter assembly. By removing the need for separate needle, guidewire, and catheter manipulation steps, the harmful effects of repeated vessel punctures and contamination exposure are eliminated.
3Ease of operation
If a low durometer material is used for the catheter, then the catheter is flexible and easy to advance, but the column strength is insufficient requiring the Seldinger technique
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter hub is constructed from a composite or reinforced material that provides high column strength to support the flexible catheter tube during insertion. The extension legs provide additional structural reinforcement, creating a composite structure that maintains both flexibility and strength without requiring the Seldinger technique.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system is segmented into distinct functional components: the flexible catheter tube for ease of advancement, the strong hub for structural support, and the extension legs for stabilization. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated system.
Data Source
AI summary
Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. For example, a RICC assembly includes a RICC and an introducer. The RICC includes a catheter tube, a catheter hub, and one or more extension legs coupled in the foregoing order. The catheter tube includes a side aperture that opens into an introducing lumen that extends from at least the side aperture to a distal end of the RICC. The introducer includes a retractable-needle device, a syringe, and a coupling hub that couples the retractable-needle device and the syringe together proximal of the side aperture in a ready-to-deploy state of the RICC assembly. The retractable-needle device includes an introducer needle. A needle tip in a distal-end portion of a shaft of the introducer needle extends beyond the distal end of the RICC when the RICC assembly is in the ready-to-deploy state of the RICC assembly.