Balloon Catheter Lumen Segmentation Guidewire Lubrication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional balloon catheters have limitations in the sliding property of the guidewire within the shaft, which affects the efficiency and safety of procedures like angioplasty.

Innovation Solution

The balloon catheter design includes a shaft with a first lumen for the guidewire and a second lumen for a tube, where the lumens are in communication and a restriction part prevents the tube from moving into the guidewire lumen, creating a gap that retains saline solution for lubrication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the guidewire is inserted through the shaft lumen in conventional balloon catheters, then the guidewire can reach the target site, but the sliding property of the guidewire is poor causing entanglement and reduced procedure efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesliding property of guidewireVSAvoidguidewire entanglement prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft lumen is segmented into two separate lumens: a first lumen for guidewire insertion and a second lumen for tube placement. This segmentation allows the guidewire and tube to travel through separate pathways, preventing entanglement while maintaining the sliding property of the guidewire through its dedicated lumen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A tube disposed in the second lumen acts as an intermediary element that communicates with the first lumen through a controlled gap. This gap allows saline solution to pass from the second lumen to the first lumen, providing lubrication to the guidewire and improving its sliding property without allowing direct contact between the tube and guidewire.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the catheter is pushed through curved or narrowed sections of blood vessels, then the catheter can reach the target site, but the pushability and trackability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepushability and trackabilityVSAvoiddelivery speed to target site

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter shaft is segmented with a support portion that has a different structural configuration than the rest of the shaft. This support portion with restricted tube movement provides enhanced rigidity and pushability when navigating curved or narrowed vessel sections, while the rest of the catheter maintains flexibility for smooth tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support portion is designed with specific structural characteristics (restricted tube movement) that differ from other portions of the shaft. This local quality enhancement provides the necessary pushability and trackability in challenging vessel sections without compromising the overall flexibility and delivery performance of the catheter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the tube is allowed to move freely in the second lumen, then the balloon can be inflated, but the tube may move into the first lumen causing guidewire entanglement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveballoon inflation capabilityVSAvoidtube position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft is constructed with a composite structure including a support portion with restricted tube movement and other portions with different characteristics. This composite design allows the tube to be constrained in specific regions to prevent entanglement while maintaining the ability to inflate the balloon through controlled gaps in the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design improves the sliding property of the guidewire, enhancing the safety and efficiency of procedures by preventing entanglement and facilitating smooth delivery of the guidewire and balloon to the treatment site.

Implementation Method 1

the balloon catheter has a gap between an outer wall of the tube and a wall of the second lumen, wherein the gap is in communication with the first lumen... The gap that meets the above requirements is formed on the outside of the tube, so that the saline solution after flushing is retained in the gap. This retained water seeping into the first lumen can lubricate the guidewire

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

the shaft has a restriction part preventing the tube from moving from the second lumen to the first lumen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS20250152922A1Balloon catheter

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 KANEKA CORP

AI summary

Provided is a balloon catheter that can improve the sliding property of the guidewire. A balloon catheter having a shaft (10) having a lumen (100) including a first lumen (110) through which a guidewire (50) is to be inserted and a second lumen (120), a balloon disposed at a distal part of the shaft (10), and a tube disposed in the second lumen (120), wherein the first lumen (110) and the second lumen (120) are in communication with each other, the shaft (10) has a restriction part (40) preventing the tube (20) from moving from the second lumen (120) to the first lumen (110), the balloon catheter has a gap (200) between the tube (20) and the second lumen (120), and the total length W200 of the gap (200) is shorter than or equal to the length W20 of the tube (20) on the straight line L2.