Multi-Lumen Articulating Catheter for Tortuous Lumen Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical professionals face challenges in accessing body lumens due to difficult angles, small openings, tortuous anatomies, and blockages, leading to increased trauma risk and procedural difficulties in procedures like endoscopic cannulation.
Innovation Solution
The development of catheters with reinforcing filaments and braided tubular members that enhance maneuverability and control, allowing for precise cannulation and cutting without the need for device exchange, featuring multiple lumens and articulation wires for improved navigation through complex anatomies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are exchanged to access body lumens, then access to different anatomical structures is achieved, but procedural complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter integrates multiple functional lumens (guidewire lumen, articulation wire lumen, fluid delivery lumen, cutting device lumen) into a single shaft structure, allowing multiple functions to be performed without exchanging devices. This merging of functions reduces procedural complexity while maintaining versatility in accessing different body lumens and performing multiple operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is designed as a universal platform that can perform multiple functions: guiding wires, articulating for angular access, delivering fluids, and deploying cutting devices. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple specialized devices, reducing both procedural complexity and intervention time while maintaining adaptability to various anatomical challenges.
2Ease of operation
If device manipulation is increased to navigate tortuous anatomies, then access to target lumens is achieved, but tissue trauma risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates an articulation mechanism with wires and joints that allow dynamic adjustment of the distal tip angle. This dynamic articulation capability enables the catheter to navigate tortuous anatomies by adapting its shape to match the natural curvature of body passages, reducing the need for forceful manipulation and minimizing tissue trauma risk while maintaining ease of navigation.
3Strength
If reinforcing structures are added to the catheter shaft, then structural strength is improved, but flexibility and maneuverability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter employs localized reinforcement strategies: the shaft includes reinforcing elements (braided tubular members, filaments) at specific segments rather than uniform reinforcement throughout. The articulation portion has controlled flexibility with specific joint locations, while the distal tip remains highly maneuverable. This local quality approach maintains overall structural strength while preserving flexibility and ease of operation in critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter shaft utilizes composite construction combining flexible polymer materials with reinforcing structures (braided tubular members, filaments). This composite design provides the necessary structural strength to support multiple lumens and withstand insertion forces while maintaining sufficient flexibility for navigation through tortuous anatomies. The articulation wires and joints further enhance maneuverability without compromising overall shaft integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices for accessing body lumens. In an embodiment, a catheter may include a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length along a longitudinal axis extending through the shaft. A plurality of lumens may extend along the length of the shaft. At least one reinforcing filament may extend along the length of the shaft and between at least two of the plurality of lumens.