Cystoflush: Autonomous Intermittent Retrograde Pumping Irrigation System
Team Member Heading link
- Chloe Baratta
- Dionna Bidny
- Collin Dreilich
- Jacob Gasienica
Advisors: Miiri Kotche, Phd, Anthony E. Felder, PhD
Sponsor: Susan Talamini
Project Description Heading link
Continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) is used in the treatment of hematuria (the presence of blood in urine) to prevent the formation of blood clots within the bladder. CBI involves the cycling of irrigant solution, typically saline, into and out of the bladder to collect and remove blood accumulating in the organ. However, CBI is error-prone, with dangerous clot formation still occurring despite intervention. Clot formation can lead to irrigant retention and complications such as severe pain and bladder rupture, a life-threatening emergency. A number of innovations have been developed to reduce clot formation and retention issues during CBI, but incorporate strictly reactive measures such as error alarm systems and inflow modulators to resolve clot hardening. These models are sub-optimal, as they only intervene following clot retention. Cystoflush augments traditional CBI with a retrograde pump designed to proactively agitate clot aggregates in the bladder, preventing the formation of large, hardened clots that cause obstruction. The prototype connects a programmable pump to the drainage channel of existing CBI. This system operates in two modes: “traditional CBI” mode and novel “pump” mode. Modes are defined by solenoid valves that control the flow direction. A microcontroller software governs both valve orientation and bolus pumping frequency based on color intensity and opacity of outflow drainage fluid, measured by a colorimetric sensor. The capacity of the colorimetric sensor to differentiate between red color intensity and opacity for distinct blood dilutions was tested. The blood dilutions were formulated to represent different concentrations commonly seen in CBI outflow by practicing urologists. Testing revealed statistical differentiation between 87.5% of compared values. Correlation of the sensor output to pumping frequency is still reliant on additional testing and sensor improvement. With further innovation, the novel Cystoflush will greatly improve patient outcomes during CBI and lessen the burden on healthcare providers globally.
See supporting documentation in the team’s Box drive.