Staggered Slit Implantable Catheter Blockage Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid drainage catheters, such as those with longitudinal slits, are susceptible to blockage when implanted in the peritoneum, as tissue growth or intestinal draping can simultaneously obstruct multiple slits, making them unsuitable for long-term use.

Innovation Solution

The development of catheters with staggered slits of different lengths along the elongate member, which reduces the likelihood of simultaneous blockage by debris or tissue growth, enhancing resistance to fluid flow obstruction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If catheters with longitudinal slits are used for fluid drainage, then fluidic throughput and drainage area are increased, but the catheters become susceptible to simultaneous blockage by tissue growth or intestinal draping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluidic throughputVSAvoidresistance to blockage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by configuring slits of different lengths (staggered lengths) rather than uniform lengths. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that tissue growth or intestinal draping cannot simultaneously block all slits, as they extend to different positions along the catheter, thereby maintaining fluidic throughput while reducing blockage susceptibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the drainage function by creating multiple slits of varying lengths along the catheter body. This segmentation distributes the drainage function across multiple independent pathways, so that blockage of one slit does not prevent fluid flow through other slits, thus improving reliability while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If catheters with uniform slits are implanted in the peritoneum, then fluid drainage is effective, but tissue growth can simultaneously obstruct multiple slits making them unsuitable for long-term use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid drainage efficiencyVSAvoidlong-term implantation suitability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric slit design where slits have different lengths extending from the catheter surface. This asymmetry prevents uniform tissue growth patterns from blocking all slits simultaneously, ensuring that at least some slits remain patent for fluid drainage over the long term, thus extending the duration of effective implantation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Productivity

If perforated drains with spaced apertures are used, then fluid drainage is possible, but wound debris and tissue growth block the apertures making removal difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid drainage capabilityVSAvoidease of removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes a flexible catheter construction with slits that can deform and move. This flexibility prevents tissue and debris from firmly anchoring to the catheter surface, as the flexible membrane can shift and prevent tissue ingrowth, thereby maintaining ease of removal while preserving fluid drainage capability through the slits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS9144660B2Implantable catheters with staggered slits, and methods of using same

Publication Date: 2015.09.29 SEQUANA MEDICAL NV

AI summary

Under one aspect of the present invention, a catheter includes an elongate member; a plurality of septa configured to define a plurality of lumens along the elongate member; and a plurality of slits defined through the elongate member, each slit configured to provide fluidic communication between an environment about the catheter and a corresponding lumen of the plurality of lumens, at least one slit having a different length than at least one other slit.