Subcutaneous Catheter Anchor With Snap-Lock Cap for Suture-Free Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for securing medical instruments like catheters to a patient's skin often require sutures or adhesive tapes, which can be cumbersome and prone to user errors, and may cause discomfort or complications.

Innovation Solution

A medical device anchor system with subcutaneous anchors and a releasable cap design that secures the instrument by deploying tines through the skin penetration point into a subcutaneous region, allowing for easy installation and removal without sutures or adhesives, and featuring a cap that can be easily snapped into place using a single hand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sutures or adhesive tapes are used to secure the catheter to the patient's skin, then the catheter can be retained in position, but the process becomes cumbersome and prone to user errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter retention reliabilityVSAvoidsecuring process simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the anchoring function from the catheter assembly itself and places it in a separate, dedicated anchor device. This anchor device is inserted through the catheter hub and engages with subcutaneous tissue, separating the retention function from the catheter handling process and eliminating the need for complex suturing or adhesive application by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor device serves as an intermediary between the catheter and the patient's skin tissue. Instead of directly suturing or adhering the catheter to the skin, the anchor acts as a mediator that secures the catheter hub to the subcutaneous tissue, simplifying the overall securing process and reducing user error.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If sutures or adhesive tapes are used to secure the catheter, then the catheter can be retained in position, but skin trauma and complications increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter retention reliabilityVSAvoidskin trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor device is designed to engage specifically with subcutaneous tissue rather than the skin surface. The anchor points are configured to penetrate and engage the fatty tissue layer beneath the skin, providing secure retention while minimizing trauma to the skin and surrounding structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If a subcutaneous anchor mechanism is used, then the need for suturing or adhering is eliminated, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring process simplicityVSAvoidanchor mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anchor device is segmented into distinct functional components: an insertion portion that engages the catheter hub, an anchor portion that engages subcutaneous tissue, and a retention portion that secures the catheter. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design and operation despite the subcutaneous mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

The system provides secure, reliable, and user-friendly attachment of medical instruments to the skin without the need for sutures or adhesives, reducing trauma and simplifying the installation and removal process.

Implementation Method 1

The retainer base may include an elastically flexible folding region about which the retainer base is adjustable between a first position and a folded position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12576245B2Systems and methods for anchoring medical devices

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 INTERRAD MEDICAL

AI summary

Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that secures a medical instrument (such as a catheter or the like) in place relative to a skin penetration point using subcutaneous anchors. In some implementations, the medical instrument can be coupled to the anchor device using a snap-lock cap mechanism.