Closed-System Bladder Irrigation Device for Rapid and Sterile Clot Removal

A closed and sterile system to break up clots for patients undergoing continuous bladder irrigation (CBI).
Problem:
Bladder irrigation is a technique for removing blood clots and bacteria from the bladder, preventing infections, and promoting healing after clinical procedures, including TURPS and TURBT, or those with medical conditions, such as radiation cystitis or hematuria. Currently there are two forms of bladder irrigation, continuous and manual. Both methods have high rates of complications. Manual irrigation is time consuming, resource intensive, and compromises sterility, increasing the risk of infection. Approximately 50% of urological inpatients undergo bladder irrigation, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections contribute to an estimated $450 million in annual healthcare costs. As such, improving safety and efficiency highlights a significant clinical need.
Solution:
This device is a closed, integrated system that enables the safe, efficient removal of bladder clots in patients undergoing continuous bladder irrigation (CBI). This system allows healthcare professionals to perform manual irrigation without breaking sterility, transforming CBI and clot maintenance into a closed-loop system, simplifying workflow, reducing time/materials, and lowering infection risk/infection-associated complications.
Technology:
This device is a closed, all-in-one CBI system that integrates a urinary catheter, syringe, and valves to streamline CBI and clot removal. This system allows clinicians to draw sterile fluid, irrigate the bladder, withdraw clot-containing fluid, and return it to the drainage bag without breaking sterility. By eliminating multiple separate components, it reduces contamination risk and simplifies workflow. The prototype designs feature color-coded plungers, along with a translucent pump housing, for real-time visualization of fluid flow and potential clogs.
Advantages:

This invention requires fewer materials, 75% less time to perform the irrigation, and less training to learn.
This irrigation device allows for closed-system intermittent irrigation for clots with at least 50% fewer supplies needed to be purchased.
Closed system irrigation leads to reduced patient complications.
Shorter training for clinicians due to simplicity of the method design.
Prototype includes translucent housing of the pump lines to have clear visibility of fluid movement to better assess clogs.

Stage of Development: