Thoracic Drainage Catheter with Segmented Air and Liquid Ports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thoracic drainage systems fail to achieve simultaneous and continuous evacuation of air and liquids from the thoracic cavity, leading to increased patient discomfort, complex system management, and risk of occlusion, which can result in severe respiratory or cardiac failures.
Innovation Solution
A thoracic drainage system featuring a drainage catheter with radially open channels at its distal end for liquid drainage and radial holes at its proximal end for air drainage, connected to a dual-port outflow tube that ensures separate and continuous evacuation of air and liquids through a single connector, reducing the complexity and cost of the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single drainage catheter with holes in the terminal portion is used, then air evacuation is achieved, but liquid evacuation is delayed and occurs only after lung expansion pushes liquids toward the apical region
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage catheter is segmented into functionally distinct regions: the terminal portion with holes for air evacuation and the proximal portion with grooves for liquid evacuation. This segmentation allows air and liquids to be drained through separate pathways simultaneously, eliminating the sequential evacuation problem where air exits first followed by delayed liquid exit.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the drainage catheter are given different structural qualities: the terminal portion has holes optimized for air passage, while the proximal portion has grooves optimized for liquid flow. This local differentiation ensures that each region performs its specific function efficiently, with air draining through the hole-rich terminal end and liquids draining through the groove-rich proximal end.
2Productivity
If a grooved drainage catheter is used to replace holes, then liquid evacuation is improved, but air evacuation is delayed and occurs only subsequently
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into functional segments with the terminal portion containing holes for air drainage and the proximal portion containing grooves for liquid drainage. This segmentation enables simultaneous operation of both drainage functions, with air exiting through the terminal holes while liquids exit through the proximal grooves, eliminating the sequential evacuation problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal portion is equipped with holes specifically optimized for air passage, while the proximal portion is equipped with grooves specifically optimized for liquid flow. This local quality differentiation ensures that air and liquids are evacuated through their respective optimized pathways without interfering with each other.
3Productivity
If two separate drainage catheters are used, one in the apical region and one in the basal region, then simultaneous air and liquid evacuation is achieved, but patient pain increases and system management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of two separate drainage catheters into a single catheter by incorporating both holes in the terminal portion and grooves in the proximal portion of one catheter. This consolidation maintains the ability to evacuate both air and liquids simultaneously while reducing the number of components, thereby simplifying system management and reducing patient discomfort from multiple insertion sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The single drainage catheter is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an air drainage device (through terminal holes) and a liquid drainage device (through proximal grooves). This universal design eliminates the need for separate specialized catheters, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining simultaneous evacuation capability.
4Device complexity
If a single drainage catheter is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but continuous air evacuation is prevented and air leaks cannot be viewed immediately
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage catheter is segmented into distinct functional zones: the terminal portion with holes that remain continuously open for air evacuation, and the proximal portion with grooves for liquid drainage. This segmentation ensures that the air drainage pathway remains uninterrupted and continuously operational, allowing immediate detection and management of air leaks while maintaining overall catheter simplicity.
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
Facilitates faster lung expansion, reduces hospitalization time, minimizes patient pain, and prevents occlusions, allowing continuous air evacuation and reducing the workload for medical staff while maintaining standard components and low costs.
Implementation Method 1
a port for the drainage of said air that is present in said pleural space, said port for the drainage of said air comprising, at said distal end of said drainage catheter, a plurality of radial holes adapted to be crossed by said air
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of longitudinally extended channels which are open radially toward the outside of said drainage catheter and are adapted to drain said liquids that are present in said pleural space
Data Source
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AI summary
A thoracic drainage system (1), comprising a drainage catheter (10) that is adapted to be inserted in the pleural space of a patient in order to drain air and/or liquids that are present in the pleural space, and a drain tube (50), which is connected to the drainage catheter (10) by means of a connector (30) which is adapted to make the air and/or the drained liquids flow out via the drainage catheter (10) to a collection chamber (60); the drainage catheter (10) comprises, at its distal end (11), a plurality of longitudinally extended channels (13, 14) which are open radially toward the outside of the drainage catheter (10) and are adapted to drain the liquids that are present in the pleural space, and, at its proximal end (12), at least one port (15, 150) for the drainage of the liquids, in which the open channels (13, 14) merge, the drainage catheter (10) comprising a port (16) for the drainage of the air that is present in the pleural space, the port (16) for the drainage of the air comprising, at the distal end (11) of the drainage catheter (10), a plurality of radial holes (17) adapted to be crossed by the air that is present in the pleural space, the drain tube (50) comprising, substantially along its entire longitudinal extension, a first outflow port (51) which is connected, by means of the connector (30), to the at least one port (15, 150) for the drainage of the liquids and a second outflow port (52) which is connected, by means of the connector (30), to the port (16) for the drainage of the air.