Balloon Catheter Connecting Part Segmentation for Foldability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balloon catheters face challenges in identifying the boundary between the inflation part and the connecting part, and in achieving favorable foldability, leading to difficulties in deflation and navigation within blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
The balloon catheter design features a cylindrical inflation part with connecting parts that have varying diameters and inclination angles, allowing for easy identification of boundaries and smooth deflation, while the molding die ensures precise manufacturing through blow molding, optimizing the balloon's shape for improved foldability and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the inclination angle of the connecting part near the joint part is made small, then the balloon can be folded appropriately, but the boundary between the inflation part and connecting part cannot be easily identified
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting part is divided into multiple sections with different inclination angles. The first connecting part has a first inclination angle, the second connecting part has a second inclination angle, and the third connecting part has a third inclination angle. This segmentation allows different portions to serve different functions: some portions prioritize foldability while others prioritize boundary identification.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the connecting part are assigned different local qualities in terms of inclination angle. Specifically, at least one of the first or second inclination angles is larger than the third inclination angle, creating local variations that optimize both foldability and visual identification at different locations along the connecting part.
2Ease of operation
If the inclination angle of the connecting part near the inflation part is made small, then the balloon can be folded appropriately, but the boundary between the inflation part and connecting part cannot be easily identified
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting part is divided into multiple sections with different inclination angles. The first connecting part has a first inclination angle, the second connecting part has a second inclination angle, and the third connecting part has a third inclination angle. This segmentation allows different portions to serve different functions: some portions prioritize foldability while others prioritize boundary identification.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the connecting part are assigned different local qualities in terms of inclination angle. Specifically, at least one of the first or second inclination angles is larger than the third inclination angle, creating local variations that optimize both foldability and visual identification at different locations along the connecting part.
3Ease of manufacture
If the balloon is designed with simple geometry, then manufacturing is easier, but the boundary identification and foldability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is segmented into distinct functional parts (inflation part, connecting parts, joint part) with varying geometric properties. The connecting part is further divided into multiple sections with different inclination angles, creating a multi-scale geometric structure that maintains manufacturing feasibility while achieving complex functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than making the entire balloon complex, only specific local regions (the connecting parts) are given complex geometric variations with different inclination angles. This localized complexity approach maintains overall manufacturing simplicity while achieving the required boundary identification and foldability characteristics.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A balloon (3) includes: an inflation part (33); a base end-side cone part (32) and a distal end-side cone part in which the diameter of one end that is connected to the inflation part (33) is larger than the diameter of the other end; and a base end-side leg part (31) and a distal end-side leg part. The base end-side cone part (32) has a first connecting part (321), a second connecting part (322), and a third connecting part (323). A first angle (θ21) between a first line segment (L21) connecting a first point (P21) and a third point (P23) and the extension direction, and a second angle (θ22) between a second line segment (L22) connecting a second point (P22) and a fourth point (P24) and the extension direction, are both larger than a third angle (θ23) between a third line segment (L23) connecting the third point (P23) and the fourth point (P24) and the extension direction.