Tissue Bonding Implantation Device for Chronic Catheter Infection Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Chronic indwelling catheters, such as those used for suprapubic bladder drainage, are prone to microbial colonization due to constant skin contact, leading to biofilm formation and increased antibiotic resistance, resulting in Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI) in patients, particularly those with spinal cord injuries.

Innovation Solution

A tissue bonding implantation device featuring an internal drainage tube with an inflatable toroidal balloon, a transcutaneous sleeve, and an external cap, where the balloon inflation conduit is in fluid communication with the cap, allowing for a watertight bond to the drainage tube when inflated, and a tissue-bonding anchor coated with antimicrobial agents to prevent microbial adhesion and biofilm formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional open access catheters are used for chronic bladder drainage, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but skin microbes can constantly access external surfaces, leading to microbial colonization and biofilm formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to microbial colonizationVSAvoidcatheter structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into distinct functional segments: an internal drainage tube for fluid drainage, an external cap for sealing, and an intermediate bonding section with tissue-bonding anchor and inflatable balloon. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while collectively preventing microbial colonization by creating a watertight bond between internal and external portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bonding section acts as an intermediary element between the internal drainage tube and external cap. It includes a tissue-bonding anchor that attaches to surrounding tissue and an inflatable balloon that creates a watertight seal, thereby mediating the connection and preventing microbial access from external surfaces to the internal drainage pathway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If antimicrobial-coated catheters are used, then microbial colonization rate is reduced, but antibiotic resistant microbes can develop due to continuous exposure to antimicrobial agents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of microbial colonizationVSAvoidantibiotic resistant microbial development
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the antimicrobial coating function from the entire catheter surface and concentrates it specifically on the bonding section that interfaces with tissue. This localized application reduces the overall antimicrobial agent exposure while maintaining effective prevention at the critical interface, thereby reducing selective pressure for resistance development.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The bonding section with tissue-bonding anchor and inflatable balloon creates a physical barrier and watertight seal before microbes can establish colonization. This preliminary physical prevention mechanism reduces reliance on continuous antimicrobial chemical action, thereby reducing the selection pressure that leads to antibiotic-resistant strains.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the catheter creates a watertight bond to prevent microbial access, then microbial colonization is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional bonding components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewatertight bonding effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of bonding components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bonding section merges multiple functions into a single integrated component structure: the tissue-bonding anchor provides mechanical attachment to tissue, the inflatable balloon creates the watertight seal, and together they form the bonding interface. This merging reduces the number of separate components while achieving both mechanical bonding and watertight sealing functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The device effectively reduces microbial colonization and biofilm formation on the catheter surface, minimizing the risk of CAUTI by creating a barrier that shields the catheter from skin microbes and maintains a therapeutic concentration of antimicrobial agents, thereby enhancing the long-term safety and efficacy of transcutaneous catheter treatments.

Implementation Method 1

The inflatable balloon is positioned to be inflated within the internal balloon inflation void of the anchor. The inflatable balloon, as so inflated, seals against the internal balloon inflation void of the anchor, creating a liquid barrier.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInflation:

Implementation Method 2

a tissue-bonding anchor coated with antimicrobial agents to prevent microbial adhesion and biofilm formation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntimicrobial action:

Data Source

PatentEP2925402B1Tissue bonding implantation device
Publication Date: 2020.10.07 GRIFFITH DONALD P
  • EP2925402B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2925402B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2925402B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tissue bonding implantation device includes an internal drainage tube having an internal surface and an external surface, an inflatable balloon in the shape of a toroid encircling the outer surface of the internal drainage tube, and a balloon inflation conduit in fluid communication with an interior of the inflatable balloon. A transcutaneous sleeve in the form of a tube having an internal diameter allows the sleeve to fit over the external surface of the internal drainage tube, and the sleeve includes a horizontal flange positioned at a top edge of the sleeve.