Steerable Chest Tube With Adjustable Curvature and Cannulas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current chest tubes for treating hemothorax are non-steerable and often inadequately placed, leading to incomplete fluid drainage, which can result in retained hemothorax, prolonged hospitalization, and increased pain due to the need for additional invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A steerable chest tube with a curved design and adjustable curvature, allowing precise placement within the pleural space, combined with extendable cannulas for anticoagulant and medication infusion, and a portable suction/infusion device for continuous drainage and treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a straight chest tube is used for fluid drainage, then the device structure is simple and easy to insert, but the tube cannot be precisely directed to fluid accumulation locations, resulting in incomplete drainage
Solution Approach 1:
The chest tube incorporates a steerable distal section that can dynamically change its curvature and orientation after insertion. A pull wire mechanism allows the tube to be steered and repositioned within the pleural space to direct the tip toward fluid accumulation locations, transforming a static straight tube into a dynamically adjustable steerable catheter.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal section of the chest tube is designed with a curved configuration rather than being straight. This curvature enables the tube to navigate around anatomical structures and reach fluid collections that are not accessible to a straight tube, improving placement precision without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
2Reliability
If a single undirected tube is used, then the insertion procedure is simple, but fluid drainage is incomplete in about 20% of cases, leading to retained hemothorax
Solution Approach 1:
The steerable chest tube system incorporates feedback mechanisms including visual markers on the tube and imaging guidance capabilities that allow the operator to monitor tube tip position in real-time. This feedback enables precise adjustment of the tube orientation to ensure optimal placement within the pleural space, significantly improving drainage completeness while maintaining procedural simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wall suction is used with extender tubing, then suction can be provided, but patient mobility is limited and additional invasive procedures are required for monitoring and treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The chest tube integrates multiple functions into a single device: fluid drainage through the main lumen, medication infusion through separate ports, and suction capability. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate extender tubing and wall suction connections, thereby improving patient mobility while maintaining comprehensive treatment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The chest tube is designed as a multi-functional device that can simultaneously perform drainage, infusion of anticoagulants and thrombolytics, and suction. This universal design allows the tube to adapt to various treatment requirements without requiring additional separate devices or complex external systems.
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
Enables more complete fluid drainage, reduces the need for additional invasive procedures, and improves patient mobility by allowing continuous suction and medication delivery, thereby minimizing complications and pain.
Implementation Method 1
suction applied to chest tubes during hemothorax treatment
Implementation Method 2
applying an appropriate amount of negative pressure in order to drain the accumulated blood and/or other fluids
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid removal device is provided for removing fluid from pleural space that includes a flexible, open tube with a slight resting curve. A first channel along a greater curvature of the tube contains a plurality of cannulas that can be extended into the pleural space to infuse medications. A second channel along a lesser curvature of the tube contains a line attached to the outer portion of the tube and tension placed on the line will increase the curve of the tube to assist in the placement of the tip of the tube in a desired location in the pleural space. The tube may be connected to a portable suction/fusion device via a click connect device. The tube may also include an improved tip and a tab for extending the cannulas maintains the corridor of stability.