Angled Sheath Tip for Tissue Conformity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheath extension technologies often cause tissue damage and trauma when extending an elongated instrument into a patient's body, as they do not effectively conform to the tissue surface, leading to unwanted contact and displacement.

Innovation Solution

The use of a sheath tip with an angled distal face that conforms to the surface of the tissue, allowing the sheath to extend at an angle and minimize contact with the tissue, thereby reducing the risk of trauma and displacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the sheath is extended at an angle to the tissue surface, then the ability to access tissue within tight spaces is improved, but tissue damage and trauma increase due to unwanted contact and displacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to access tissue within tight spacesVSAvoidtissue damage and trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sheath tip is designed with a curved surface that conforms to the tissue surface geometry. This curvature allows the sheath to follow the natural contours of the tissue when extended at an angle, distributing contact forces and preventing concentrated pressure points that would cause tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The sheath tip features a localized curved surface specifically at the distal end that contacts the tissue, while the rest of the sheath maintains its structural integrity. This localized adaptation allows the sheath to conform to the tissue surface only where necessary, maintaining accessibility to tight spaces while minimizing trauma through targeted geometric adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the sheath tip is designed with an angled distal face to conform to tissue surface, then tissue damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue damageVSAvoidsheath tip geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sheath is divided into distinct segments: the main sheath body and the specialized sheath tip. This segmentation allows the complex curved geometry to be concentrated in the small tip portion, keeping the overall device simple while achieving the tissue-conforming function where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sheath tip employs a controlled change in geometric parameters, specifically the curvature radius, to achieve surface conformity. By carefully selecting and applying curvature only at the distal face, the design achieves tissue adaptation with minimal increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12251078B2Sheath tip with angled distal face

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 GYRUS ACMI INC

AI summary

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing a sheath tip with an angled distal face to conform the sheath to a surface of tissue toward which the sheath is being extended to potentially help reduce or avoid tissue damage upon extending a sheath to convey an elongated instrument for sampling or treatment. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a sheath tip configured to be positioned at an end of a sheath that is extendable toward a tissue at an angle to a surface of the tissue. The sheath tip has a distal end that is angled such that a periphery of the sheath tip at the distal end is configured to generally conform to the surface of the tissue.