Balloon Dilation Catheter with Curved Guide and Ball Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balloon dilation catheter systems for treating sinusitis are not optimized for precise anatomical fit and may lack features for enhanced guidance and visualization, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A balloon dilation catheter with a rigid inner guide member having a curved distal end and a polymer ball tip, integrated with a shaft and a balloon, designed for specific anatomical curvatures, and equipped with a guidewire and image-guided surgery capabilities for precise placement and visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a traditional balloon dilation catheter is used, then the procedure can be performed with a simple structure, but the precision of anatomical fit and treatment outcome is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a curved distal end with a specific radius of curvature (e.g., 2-5 cm) to match the natural anatomical curvature of the sinus drainage pathway. This curved configuration enables the catheter to follow the physiological path from the nasal cavity through the ostium into the sinus, significantly improving anatomical fit precision without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter features a polymer ball tip at the distal end with a specific diameter (e.g., 0.5-2 mm) that provides localized precision for navigating the ostium and positioning the balloon. This localized structural enhancement improves anatomical fit at the critical distal end while keeping the rest of the catheter structure relatively simple.
2Measurement precision
If image-guided surgery capabilities are integrated, then real-time guidance and visualization are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates image-guided surgery capabilities by combining the balloon dilation catheter with fluoroscopic or angiographic imaging systems. The catheter includes radiopaque markers or contrast injection capabilities that allow real-time visualization of catheter position and balloon inflation status during the procedure, improving placement precision while leveraging existing imaging infrastructure rather than adding standalone complex imaging devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses contrast material as an intermediary to enable visualization. Contrast can be injected through the catheter or balloon to enhance visibility under fluoroscopy, providing real-time guidance for catheter placement and balloon positioning without requiring complex integrated imaging sensors within the catheter itself.
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
Enhances the precision and comfort of sinus drainage pathway dilation by ensuring anatomical fit and providing real-time guidance, thereby improving treatment efficacy and patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The balloon is then expanded to open or reduce the degree of constriction in the sinus passageway being treated
Implementation Method 2
The balloon is positioned over the curved portion of the substantially rigid inner guide member
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a balloon dilation catheter that includes a handle, a substantially rigid inner guide member coupled to the handle, a shaft arranged over the inner guide member, a balloon coupled to the inner guide member, and a polymer ball tip positioned at a distal end of the balloon. To treat a sinus drainage pathway of a subject using the balloon dilation catheter, the substantially rigid inner guide member is positioned into the drainage pathway of the sinus of the subject via a nasal passageway. The balloon is then inflated to expand or otherwise remodel the drainage pathway.