Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

An abdominal wall simulator for testing suprapubic urinary catheters

Gr�ver, D.; Coveney, V. A.; Grover, D

Authors

D. Gr�ver

V. A. Coveney

D Grover



Abstract

Urinary catheters (drainage tubes) are in widespread use. The most common type of long-term catheter is the Foley, which is made from natural or synthetic rubber. Foley catheters are passed into the bladder via the urethra or the suprapubic puncture channel (through the abdominal wall). A simulator for the abdominal wall has been developed to simulate aspects of the interaction between it and a suprapubic catheter. The simulator is based on a slab of ultrasoft elastomer with tensionable reinforcing polyamide filaments. The behaviour of the simulator has been compared with data published. A soft membrane (contact pressure) transducer (SMT) was used and novel instrumented 'tongs' for lateral indentation of the puncture track giving indentation stiffness. Slab materials were used with shear moduli of 0.1 and 0.021 MPa. Two filament-tensioning methods were used: by clamping to a winding mechanism and by weights. The combination of the softer slab material and tensioning by weights gave good conformity to physiological data; other combinations did not.

Citation

Gröver, D., Coveney, V. A., & Grover, D. (2001). An abdominal wall simulator for testing suprapubic urinary catheters. Physiological Measurement, 22(3), 505-516. https://doi.org/10.1088/0967-3334/22/3/308

Journal Article Type Conference Paper
Publication Date Sep 11, 2001
Journal Physiological Measurement
Print ISSN 0967-3334
Publisher IOP Publishing
Peer Reviewed Not Peer Reviewed
Volume 22
Issue 3
Pages 505-516
DOI https://doi.org/10.1088/0967-3334/22/3/308
Keywords instrumentation and measurement, medical physics, biological physics
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1090863
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0967-3334/22/3/308
Additional Information Additional Information : As explained in the additional information for Coveney o/p 1, a more efficient and humane design for urological devices was required. Once physiological data was available a simulator was devised and validated (as described in this article). The work is now being used by the BioMed Centre at Southmead Hospital, Bristol (contact Adele Long) with commercial partners.


Downloadable Citations