Drainage Catheter With Separate Suture Lumen for Clear Fluid Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drainage catheters face challenges with fluid flow interference and precipitation buildup due to the presence of a suture within the drainage lumen, which can inhibit the flow of fluids and solid or semi-solid particles, and may prevent the use of straightening devices like stylets.

Innovation Solution

The drainage catheter incorporates a dedicated suture lumen separate from the drainage lumen, allowing the suture to deflect the catheter tip into an anchor configuration while maintaining efficient fluid flow and enabling the use of stylets for insertion and removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a suture is placed within the drainage lumen to deflect the catheter tip into an anchor configuration, then the catheter can be securely anchored within the body, but the suture interferes with fluid flow and may cause precipitation buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatheter anchoringVSAvoidfluid flow interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into separate functional lumens: a drainage lumen for fluid flow and a suture lumen for suture passage. This segmentation allows the suture to perform its anchoring function without interfering with fluid drainage, as each lumen is dedicated to its specific purpose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The suture is extracted from the drainage lumen and placed into a separate suture lumen. This extraction removes the harmful interference the suture causes to fluid flow while preserving its beneficial anchoring function, as the suture now occupies its own dedicated space within the catheter wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a suture is placed within the drainage lumen to enable anchor configuration, then the catheter can be securely anchored, but the suture prevents the use of straightening devices like stylets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatheter anchoringVSAvoidstylet insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter structure is segmented into separate lumens for different functions. The suture lumen is specifically designed to allow stylet passage, while the drainage lumen remains clear for fluid flow. This segmentation enables both stylet insertion and suture anchoring to occur simultaneously without interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The suture is taken out of the drainage lumen and placed in a separate suture lumen, which is specifically designed to accommodate both the suture and stylet. This extraction resolves the conflict between suture anchoring and stylet insertion by providing a dedicated pathway for the stylet that does not interfere with the suture's anchoring function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If a single lumen is used for both drainage and suture passage, then the device structure is simpler, but fluid flow is inhibited and precipitation buildup occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelumen structureVSAvoidprecipitation buildup
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The single lumen is segmented into separate drainage and suture lumens within the catheter wall. This segmentation prevents precipitation buildup by eliminating the interference between suture and fluid flow, while the overall device structure remains relatively simple through integrated wall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The suture pathway is moved from the central drainage space to the catheter wall dimension, creating a separate suture lumen within the wall structure. This dimensional reorganization allows both drainage and suture functions to coexist without interference, maintaining simple device architecture while eliminating harmful interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3958919B1Drainage catheter with suture lumen
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC
  • EP3958919B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3958919B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3958919B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A drainage catheter configured for draining bodily fluid from a patient is disclosed. The drainage catheter may comprise a catheter tube with a drainage lumen and a suture lumen. A suture of the drainage catheter may be disposed within the suture lumen. The suture may be coupled to a distal end of the catheter tube and extend proximally through a hub disposed at the proximal end of the catheter tube.