89 - Development of a Novel Dual-Lumen Catheter and Artificially Intelligent Pump System for Complex Fluid Drainage

Purpose: To compare the performance of a novel abscess drainage catheter system with conventional devices, utilizing in silico, in vitro, and ex vivo experimental assays.

Materials and Methods: In silico: computational fluid dynamics modeling guided the design of a novel catheter with dedicated aspiration and flush lumens uniquely engineered to optimize clearance of occlusive debris and preserve patency compared to single lumen catheters.

In vitro: a custom 3D-printed test bed, along with abscess fluid analogues of tunable viscosity (glycerol-water solutions of 0-80% w/v) and particulate density (bulgur wheat #1 of 0-16 g/100 mL), were used for head-to-head challenges of the 12 Fr dual-lumen prototype catheter vs. 10 and 12 Fr commercially available catheters attached to bulb suction. The primary endpoint was time to complete fluid evacuation.

Ex vivo: a biomimetic abscess model was developed using the fresh, unfixed human cadaveric bladder as a surrogate cavity, distended with abscess analogue fluid via transurethral Foley catheter, and subsequently drained via suprapubic cystostomy catheter. Fluid transfer was measured via real-time digital weight scales. The pump-driven drainage system was compared to a 12 Fr commercially available catheter attached to bulb suction. Performance metrics included mass transfer and post-processed CT image parameters (bladder cross-sectional area, volume, and average fluid density) over time.

Results: In silico: the dual-lumen catheter model with the highest simulated flushing velocity and drainage flow rate was characterized by an 80:20 drain/flush luminal ratio, septal holes of distally increasing diameters (1-3 mm), and proximal offset of each septal hole by 1 mm relative to its corresponding side hole.

In vitro: across viscosities and particulate burden, the novel drainage system significantly reduced time to complete fluid evacuation vs. 10 and 12 Fr comparators.

Ex vivo: The novel drainage system without or with pump-driven flushing demonstrated greater and more continuous reductions in cavity volume and fluid density on serial CT imaging vs. a 12 Fr standard catheter attached to bulb suction.

Conclusion: A novel abscess drainage system composed of a unique dual-lumen catheter and programmable aspiration/flush pumps maintained patency and outperformed conventional drainage techniques in bench-top and cadaveric models, particularly for viscous, particulate-rich collections. Such technology has the potential to accelerate abscess resolution, shorten catheter dwell times, and reduce the need for drain check/exchange/upsize procedures.