Telescopic Urinary Catheter Assembly with Nested Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing urinary catheter assemblies are not compact or portable enough for easy use outside the home, particularly for males due to the longer male urethra, and there is a need for a discreet, easy-to-open, and easy-to-dispose-of packaging solution.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic urinary catheter assembly is designed with a catheter member, a sleeve member that is more flexible than the catheter member, and a stylet that allows the assembly to be moved between a compact configuration and an extended configuration, facilitating easier insertion and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the catheter tube is made longer to accommodate the male urethra, then the catheter can reach the bladder, but the compactness and portability of the catheter deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tube is nested within the introducer sheath, with the distal portion of the catheter tube positioned within the distal portion of the introducer sheath. This nesting arrangement allows the long catheter to be contained within a compact package, resolving the contradiction between length and volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter assembly is divided into distinct segments: the catheter tube, the introducer sheath, and the stylet. These segments can be independently positioned and manipulated, allowing the long catheter to be staged for insertion while maintaining a compact overall profile during storage and transport.
2Volume of moving object
If the catheter assembly is made compact and portable for easy use outside the home, then the device becomes more convenient for self-catheterization, but the ability to advance into the longer male urethra deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stylet acts as an intermediary element that provides temporary rigidity to the catheter assembly during insertion. The stylet is positioned within the catheter tube to provide structural support, enabling the compact assembly to be advanced into the urethra without compromising the ability to reach the bladder.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter assembly transitions from a static compact configuration during storage to a dynamic extended configuration during insertion. The stylet can be advanced or repositioned within the catheter tube to provide the necessary rigidity during the insertion process, then removed or repositioned once the catheter is in place.
3Ease of operation
If a stylet is added to provide structural support for insertion, then the ease of advancement into the urethra improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stylet serves multiple functions: it provides structural support during insertion, can be used to manipulate the catheter position, and may assist in advancing the catheter through the urethra. This multi-functionality justifies the addition of the component while maximizing its utility across different insertion scenarios.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 8~9
AI summary
A urinary catheter assembly (10) includes a catheter member (12) and a sleeve member (22) receiving at least a portion of the catheter member and having a greater flexibility than the catheter member. The assembly also includes a stylet (30) having a proximal end movably positioned within the catheter member, with a distal portion of the stylet being positioned outside of the catheter member. The assembly is movable between a compact configuration and an extended configuration. In the compact configuration, the distal portion of the stylet is positioned outside of the catheter member and at least partially within the sleeve member. In the extended configuration, a larger distal portion of the stylet is positioned outside of the catheter member than in the compact configuration. The assembly may be in the extended configuration for introduction into a urethra or may be advanced through a urethra prior to being moved to the extended configuration.