Balloon Catheter Linear Protrusion Dynamics for Lesion Incision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balloon catheters with constant linear protrusions on their surface face challenges in inserting and effectively widening narrowed vessel lesions due to reduced insertability and inadequate incision creation, as the constant height of protrusions leads to poor contact with the lesion site.
Innovation Solution
A balloon catheter design featuring linear protrusions with a slope portion that decreases in height towards the tip-end side, allowing for angled contact and easier insertion, and a no-protrusion region for improved flexibility, along with multiple slope angles for varied lesion widening strategies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the height of each linear portion is constant, then the outer diameter of the straight tube portion is constantly large, but insertability of the balloon during insertion into the lesion site decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The linear portions are designed with variable height along the axial direction, transitioning from a constant height configuration to a dynamic height configuration where the height changes progressively. This allows the balloon to have a smaller effective outer diameter during insertion while maintaining the necessary structural properties for lesion treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the linear portions have different heights, with the height varying along the axial direction. The linear portions have a greater height at the proximal end and a smaller height at the distal end, creating local variations in the balloon's outer diameter that facilitate insertion while maintaining treatment effectiveness at specific locations.
2Area of stationary object
If the height of each linear portion is constant, then a large area of the linear portion contacts the lesion at a time, but the linear portions may not easily dig into the lesion and thus proper incisions may not be made
Solution Approach 1:
The linear portions are designed with varying heights along the axial direction, creating different contact pressures and engagement characteristics at different locations. The greater height at the proximal end provides stronger incision capability, while the smaller height at the distal end allows for gradual engagement, enabling the linear portions to effectively dig into the lesion and create proper incisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable height configuration allows the linear portions to dynamically engage with the lesion during balloon inflation. As the balloon expands, the linear portions with different heights make sequential contact with the lesion, enabling a progressive digging action that facilitates effective incision creation throughout the lesion length.
3Device complexity
If linear protrusions with constant height are used, then the balloon structure is simple, but the ability to properly widen lesions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon incorporates linear portions with locally varied heights along the axial direction, with different height characteristics at different positions. This local variation in geometry allows the balloon to create multiple incisions at different depths and locations, improving the reliability of lesion widening while maintaining a relatively simple overall balloon structure that can be manufactured using conventional techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A balloon catheter includes a balloon that is inflatable and deflatable, includes a straight tube portion and a linear protrusion that protrudes from an outer surface of the straight tube portion and extends in an axial direction of the straight tube portion. The linear protrusion includes a slope portion wherein a ridge slopes down to the outer surface, the slope portion includes a first slope portion in which the ridge slopes down to the outer surface toward a tip-end side, and the linear protrusion has a projection height from the outer surface that becomes lower toward the tip-end side in the axial direction within a region between a base-end side edge of the first slope portion and a tip-end side edge of the linear protrusion.