Urethra Protection Device with Inflatable Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bladder endoscopes and urethral catheters cause pain and mechanical stimulation during insertion and extraction, making it difficult to diagnose and treat lower urinary tract disorders like interstitial cystitis without anesthesia, and can lead to biased measurement results due to pain-induced discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A urethra protection device featuring a pair of hollow tubes with a flange and check valve, made of soft, flexible materials, allowing simultaneous insertion and extraction of multiple devices without direct contact with the urethra, reducing friction and pain, and preventing liquid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional bladder endoscopes and urethral catheters are inserted into the urethra, then diagnostic and treatment functions are achieved, but mechanical stimulation and pain occur during insertion and extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a urethra protection device as an intermediary component between the conventional medical devices (bladder endoscope and urethral catheter) and the urethra. This protection device includes a protective tube that covers the insertion portion of the medical devices, creating a buffer zone that reduces direct mechanical contact and friction with the urethral mucosa during insertion, extraction, and positioning operations, thereby eliminating mechanical stimulation and pain while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective tube of the urethra protection device is constructed from flexible materials that can adapt to the urethral anatomy. The flexible shell conforms to the urethral contour, providing smooth contact that minimizes friction and mechanical irritation during device manipulation, allowing pain-free insertion and extraction while preserving the functional performance of the embedded medical devices.
2Loss of information
If multiple devices are inserted simultaneously for comprehensive diagnosis, then diagnostic information is improved, but friction and pain increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple medical devices (bladder endoscope and urethral catheter) into a single integrated urethra protection device structure. The protective tube accommodates both devices within its lumen, allowing them to be inserted simultaneously through one unified interface. This merging approach consolidates multiple sources of friction into a single protective interface, reducing cumulative mechanical irritation and pain while enabling comprehensive diagnostic functionality.
3Device complexity
If conventional devices are used without protection, then device simplicity is maintained, but liquid leakage occurs during procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The urethra protection device is segmented into distinct functional components: a protective tube for mechanical protection, a flange for sealing and positioning, and an inflation mechanism for securing the seal. The flange portion includes an inflation lumen that can be expanded to create a tight seal against the urethral wall, preventing liquid leakage during diagnostic procedures. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall device manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes in the form of an inflatable flange that transitions from a deflated state during insertion to an inflated state for sealing. By changing the volume and rigidity parameters of the flange portion, the device achieves effective liquid sealing without requiring complex mechanical sealing structures. The inflation parameter can be adjusted to match the patient's urethral anatomy, providing reliable sealing while maintaining device simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the present invention to eliminate mechanical stimulation caused by insertion and extraction of such devices as a bladder endoscope and a urethral catheter into and from a urethra. It is a further object of the present invention to make it possible to simultaneously insert such devices as a bladder endoscope and a urethral catheter into the urethra without causing pain. A urethra protection device of the present invention which can be inserted into a urethra includes a first hollow tube in which a bladder endoscope can be inserted, a second hollow tube in which a urethral catheter can be inserted, and a flange provided on an outer peripheral part of the urethra protection device at a position separated from a forward end thereof which is first inserted into the urethra.