Single-Catheter Lung Isolation via Asymmetric Aperture Bridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing double-lumen bronchial catheters are thick, prone to misalignment, and cause lung injury due to unbalanced ventilation, making them unsuitable for minimally invasive surgeries and increasing the risk of pulmonary complications.
Innovation Solution
A gas-dividing-type single-lumen lung isolation catheter with a main tracheal catheter and bronchial catheter, featuring a second perforated region with strategically distributed apertures and a sputum suction hole, along with inflatable balloons and a ventilation pressure controller for controlled balanced ventilation and bridge structure span.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double-lumen bronchial catheter with a separator is used to isolate left and right lungs, then lung isolation function is achieved, but the catheter outer diameter becomes excessively thick causing injury to oral tissues, vocal cords, and tracheal walls
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into two functional lumens (first lumen for isolated lung ventilation, second lumen for tracheal ventilation) within a single thin-walled structure, eliminating the need for a thick separator while maintaining lung isolation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The bronchial catheter is inserted through the main tracheal catheter, with the first opening of the bronchial catheter positioned at the end of the main tracheal catheter, creating a nested configuration that achieves lung isolation without increasing outer diameter
2Reliability
If a double-lumen catheter with separator is used, then lung isolation is achieved, but position alignment is difficult and misalignment easily occurs requiring fiberoptic bronchoscope assistance
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the catheter are marked with distinct color rings (first color ring on main tracheal catheter, second color ring on bronchial catheter) to enable visual identification and accurate positioning during insertion without requiring fiberoptic bronchoscope assistance
3Reliability
If a double-lumen catheter is used, then lung isolation is achieved, but when body position changes the catheter is prone to rotational displacement affecting ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The first opening of the bronchial catheter and the second perforated region are positioned asymmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, creating an asymmetric configuration that prevents rotational displacement when body position changes
Solution Approach 2:
The second perforated region is positioned at a specific longitudinal distance from the end of the main tracheal catheter, adding longitudinal dimension control to the asymmetric transverse positioning, thereby stabilizing the catheter in three-dimensional space
4Reliability
If a double-lumen catheter with separator is used, then lung isolation is achieved, but complete lung collapse or lung atrophy on the operated side is easily caused increasing risk of acute lung injury and re-expansion pulmonary edema
Solution Approach 1:
The thick separator structure is completely removed from the design, replacing it with a thin-walled single lumen configuration that eliminates the source of mechanical compression and injury while maintaining ventilation isolation through strategic opening placement
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter wall thickness parameter is reduced from thick (in double-lumen design) to thin-walled, changing the mechanical properties to reduce compression forces on the isolated lung while maintaining structural integrity for ventilation delivery
5Reliability
If a double-lumen catheter with many joints is used, then lung isolation is achieved, but cumbersome operations are required in preparation for anesthesia and risk of joint detachment is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Two separate catheter systems (main tracheal catheter and bronchial catheter) are merged into a single integrated unit where the bronchial catheter passes through the main tracheal catheter, eliminating multiple joints and simplifying the system to a single-piece configuration
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 2(c)~3(a)
AI summary
Disclosed is an air cutting type bridge frame for controlling the balanced ventilation of a single-cavity lung isolation catheter, relating to the technical field of medical appliances. The air cutting type bridge frame for controlling the balanced ventilation of a single-cavity lung isolation catheter is used for solving the problems of a low balanced ventilation efficiency of the left and right lungs and poor safety during thoracic surgery by using existing lung isolation catheters and for replacing the existing lung isolation catheters. The geometric distribution of apertures in the catheter wall of the air cutting type bridge frame for controlling the balanced ventilation of a single-cavity lung isolation catheter is utilized for solving the risk caused by the easy bending of existing lung isolation catheters; and by means of the geometric distribution of the apertures, the support strength of a second aperture region (11) is enhanced. The air cutting type bridge frame for controlling the balanced ventilation of a single-cavity lung isolation catheter comprises a main pipe tracheal catheter (1) and a bronchial catheter (2) communicating with one end of the main pipe tracheal catheter (1); the tail end of the bronchial catheter (2) is provided with a first opening (21); the second aperture region (11) comprising at least two apertures is arranged on the lower end side wall of the main pipe tracheal catheter (1); and the second aperture region (11) is in the same or different transverse tangential plane or longitudinal tangential plane distribution in the three-dimensional space formed by the main pipe tracheal catheter (1).