Telescopic Catheter Retention Element for Safe Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheters are cumbersome to handle and extract due to their constant diameter and rigidity, which can lead to kinking and discomfort, especially for individuals with disabilities who require frequent catheterization.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic catheter design with a retention element, such as a string or retention arrow, that allows for easy extension and secure locking without damaging the catheter surface, enabling safe and hygienic handling by breaking at a predetermined strength to release from the container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the catheter is made from a form stable and relatively hard tube to avoid kinking, then the catheter maintains its shape and prevents collapse, but the catheter becomes difficult to handle and extract, especially for disabled users
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple telescopic sections that can be nested within each other. The outer section provides structural stability to prevent kinking, while the inner section can be easily pulled out and handled. The retention element connects these sections, allowing the stable outer section to remain in place while the inner section is manipulated for insertion and removal.
Solution Approach 2:
A retention element (string, arrow, or wire) is introduced as an intermediary component to connect the telescopic sections. This retention element provides a gripping point for users to manipulate the catheter without directly handling the slippery or rigid catheter tube itself, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining the structural integrity of the hard tube sections.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the catheter is made with a smooth and slippery surface for comfortable insertion, then the catheter causes less pain and trauma during insertion, but the catheter becomes difficult to grip and handle by manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The retention element serves as a mediator between the user's hand and the slippery catheter surface. Users grip the retention element (which has sufficient friction for handling) rather than directly gripping the smooth catheter tube. This allows the catheter to maintain its smooth surface for comfortable insertion while providing an alternative gripping surface through the retention element for easy handling and manipulation.
3Ease of manufacture
If the catheter is made as a single piece with constant diameter, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the catheter is cumbersome to handle and extract, and may kink or collapse when bent in small radius
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into multiple telescopic sections with varying diameters that can be nested within each other. This segmentation allows the catheter to be compact for storage and easy to handle, while still maintaining structural integrity. The different diameter sections prevent kinking by providing gradual transitions, and the nested configuration reduces the overall size for easy storage and transportation.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter sections are designed to nest within each other in a telescopic fashion. The inner section fits inside the outer section, creating a compact configuration for storage and handling. When deployed, the sections extend outward to provide the necessary length and structural stability. This nesting principle solves the contradiction by making the catheter compact and easy to handle when stored, while providing full functionality when in use.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a telescopic device comprising at least two sections, wherein an extraction force is needed to extend the device from a short telescope configuration to an extended configuration and securing the sections in extended configuration; a separation force is needed to pull the at least two sections apart; retention means coupling at least one of the two sections to at least one attachment point; and the uncoupling strength of the retention means is larger than the extraction force but smaller than the separation force. This allows the telescopic device to be properly extended into its extended configuration before the retention means uncouples the telescopic device from the at least one attachment point.