Tapered Catheter Lumen Segmentation for High Flow and Small Vein Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter designs fail to accommodate high flow rates while maintaining mechanical strength, especially for small diameter catheters used in smaller bodily lumens, which is crucial for efficient medical procedures like dialysis and power injection.
Innovation Solution
The catheter design features a tapered elongated conduit with varying cross-sectional dimensions and wall thickness, including a smaller intermediate section between larger proximal and distal sections, allowing for increased durability and flow dynamics, and can be made using shape memory materials for expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the catheter diameter is reduced to position in smaller bodily lumens, then the catheter can be positioned in smaller veins, but the flow rate and mechanical strength are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple sections with different diameters: a first section with a first diameter for positioning in smaller veins, a second section with a second diameter for positioning in larger vessels, and a third section with a third diameter. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the catheter to navigate small veins while maintaining high flow capacity in larger vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-diameter catheter to a multi-diameter catheter by adding the dimensional variation along the catheter's length. This dimensional change allows the catheter to accommodate different vessel sizes along its path, simultaneously achieving easy positioning in small veins and high flow rate capability.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter diameter is reduced to position in smaller bodily lumens, then the catheter can be positioned in smaller veins, but the mechanical strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple sections with different diameters and wall thicknesses. The first section has optimized dimensions for navigating small veins, while the second section has larger dimensions providing enhanced mechanical strength for withstanding high pressure during power injection procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the catheter are given different local properties: the first section is designed with specific diameter and wall thickness for flexibility and ease of insertion in small veins, while the second section has larger diameter and adjusted wall thickness to provide the mechanical strength and pressure resistance needed for high-flow procedures.
3Productivity
If the lumen diameter is increased to accommodate high flow rates, then the flow rate is improved, but the catheter cannot be positioned in smaller veins
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter lumens are segmented into different sections with different diameters. The first lumen section has a first diameter optimized for high flow rate during power injection, while the second lumen section has a second diameter that allows the catheter to be positioned in smaller veins during insertion and navigation.
4Strength
If the wall thickness is increased to improve mechanical strength, then the catheter strength is improved, but the flow rate is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter wall thickness is segmented into different sections. The first section has a first wall thickness optimized for mechanical strength to withstand high injection pressures, while the second section has a second wall thickness that maintains adequate strength while preserving larger lumen diameter for high flow rate.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter that comprises a hub, an elongated conduit, and at least one lumen therein. The lumen includes a proximal lumen section, a distal lumen section, and an intermediate lumen section extending between the proximal and distal lumen sections. The cross-sectional dimension of the intermediate lumen section is less than the cross-sectional dimension of the distal lumen section. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional dimension of the intermediate lumen section is less than the cross-sectional dimension of the proximal lumen section. In certain embodiments, the lumen tapers from the distal and/or proximal lumen sections to the intermediate lumen section.