Balloon Catheter Relief Structure for Vessel Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balloon catheters lack sufficient flexibility and small profile, making it difficult to navigate through vessels and lumina safely and effectively for dilation purposes.
Innovation Solution
The balloon catheter features a relief structure on its outside surface, such as helical grooves, which disappears in the inflated state, enhancing flexibility and adaptability, achieved through methods like heat application, high pressure, or winding a wire around the balloon.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard smooth balloon surface is used, then the balloon structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the catheter lacks sufficient flexibility and cannot adapt to vessel bends
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon surface is segmented into multiple relief structures (grooves, ridges, or patterns) that divide the continuous surface into distinct zones. These segmented structures allow different parts of the balloon to deform independently, enhancing overall flexibility and adaptability to vessel bends while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The relief structures are designed to dynamically change their configuration based on balloon inflation state. When deflated, the relief structures provide flexibility; when inflated, they substantially disappear to provide a smooth profile. This dynamic transformation allows the balloon to adapt to varying operational requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the balloon has a large profile for structural integrity, then the balloon is stronger, but it is difficult to pass through vessels and lumina safely
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon profile dynamically changes between a compressed small profile during navigation and an expanded larger profile during dilation. The relief structures enable this dynamic transformation, allowing the balloon to maintain structural integrity when needed while minimizing profile for safe passage through vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon utilizes flexible material with integrated relief structures that allow the shell to compress into a small profile for navigation while maintaining sufficient structural integrity. The relief structures enable the thin film to deform and adapt without compromising strength, facilitating easy passage through vessels.
3Force
If the relief structure remains visible in the inflated state, then the flexibility is maintained, but the balloon cannot provide effective dilation pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The relief structures are designed to substantially disappear when the balloon is inflated, dynamically transforming from a visible flexible state to a smooth high-pressure state. This ensures that during dilation, the balloon provides effective uniform pressure without the relief structures interfering, while maintaining flexibility during deflated navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the relief structures changes based on balloon pressure parameters. When pressure is low (deflated state), the relief structures are visible and provide flexibility; when pressure increases (inflated state), the relief structures substantially disappear to enable effective dilation pressure application.
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
The flexible design allows for easier and safer passage through vessels and lumina, reducing the risk of damage by adapting to bends and maintaining a small profile.
Implementation Method 1
the relief structure is produced on the application of heat in order to deform the elastic material of the balloon
Implementation Method 2
the relief structure is produced on the surface of the balloon by applying a high pressure to the inside of the balloon
Data Source
AI summary
A balloon catheter includes a catheter tube and an inflatable balloon. The ends of the balloon are attached to the catheter tube. The outside surface of the balloon in an uninflated state is provided with a relief structure which in an inflated state of the balloon is substantially disappeared. A method for producing such a relief structure is by winding a wire helically around the outer surface of the balloon.