Switching Unit for Multi-Catheter Signal Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical procedures requiring multiple catheters often face inefficiencies due to mismatches between the number of catheter sockets and channels, leading to time-consuming unplugging and re-plugging, which disrupts the procedure.
Innovation Solution
A system with a switching unit and circuitry that uses EEPROM devices to store channel information and produce control signals for routing signals, allowing automatic connection and disconnection of catheters, ensuring seamless signal transmission regardless of the number of catheters plugged in.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of catheter sockets is fixed in the console, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate variable numbers of catheters, leading to unplugging and re-plugging operations
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter management system is segmented into multiple independent switching units, each handling a subset of catheter channels. This allows the system to accommodate variable numbers of catheters by activating only the necessary switching units, rather than requiring a fixed large array of sockets.
Solution Approach 2:
A switching unit acts as an intermediary between the catheters and the console, providing flexible routing of catheter channels to console sockets. This mediator enables dynamic allocation of channel connections without requiring physical reconfiguration of the console itself.
2Productivity
If manual unplugging and re-plugging of catheters is performed, then the number of available sockets is limited, but this causes time loss and procedural interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The switching unit is pre-configured with multiple catheter sockets and channel routing paths before the procedure begins. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for time-consuming unplugging and re-plugging operations during the procedure, as all necessary connections are already available through the switching matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching unit provides dynamic channel routing that can be reconfigured electronically during the procedure without physical intervention. This dynamic capability allows rapid switching between different catheter configurations, maintaining procedural flow and eliminating manual connection changes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple catheters with multiple channels each are connected, then the signal routing complexity increases, but the console has fixed sockets limiting flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The switching unit is designed as a universal interface that can handle multiple catheter types and channel configurations through a single device. It provides multi-functional capability to route different catheter channels to appropriate console sockets based on the specific procedural requirements, rather than requiring dedicated sockets for each catheter type.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching unit adds a dimensional layer of abstraction between the catheters and console, transforming the fixed one-to-one socket relationship into a many-to-many routing matrix. This dimensional change enables flexible channel allocation across multiple catheters without increasing the physical console socket count.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A system includes: (a) a switching unit including: (i) first sockets, which are configured to connect between the switching unit and channels of one or more catheters, (ii) second sockets, which are configured to connect, via the switching unit, between the first sockets and a console, and (iii) a switch, which is configured, based on a control signal, to route signals conducted in the channels, between the first and second sockets, and (b) circuitry, which is configured, based on information received from the one or more catheters, to produce the control signal for routing of the signals.