Bendable Guidewire Lumen for Precise Side-Opening Redirection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing catheters lack the ability to efficiently and precisely redirect guidewires and other instruments through dedicated side openings while maintaining structural integrity and flexibility, particularly in navigating complex vascular structures.

Innovation Solution

A redirection catheter with a bendable internal lumen and actuator mechanism that allows the distal end of the internal tubular body to be translated from a longitudinal position to a side-facing position, optionally reinforced with metallic elements to prevent unwanted bending, enabling guidewires and other instruments to exit through dedicated side openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the catheter uses a rigid structure to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple segments including an external tubular body and an internal tubular body that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the external body to maintain structural integrity while the internal body provides flexibility for redirection, resolving the contradiction between strength and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter employs composite construction with an external tubular body and an internal tubular body made of different materials with varying rigidity properties. The external body uses more rigid material for structural support, while the internal body uses more flexible material for redirection, achieving both strength and flexibility simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the catheter allows significant bending for redirection, then adaptability is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveredirection capabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the catheter into an external tubular body and an internal tubular body, the bending and redirection actions are confined to the internal body, which is designed to be more flexible. The external body remains relatively straight and maintains its structural integrity, thus achieving both redirection capability and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If the catheter includes reinforcement elements to prevent unwanted bending, then structural integrity is improved, but flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidflexibility for redirection

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement elements are placed only in the external tubular body, which requires structural integrity. The internal tubular body, which requires flexibility for redirection, is not reinforced and can bend freely. This segmented reinforcement strategy achieves both structural strength and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Reinforcement is applied locally to the external tubular body where structural integrity is needed, while leaving the internal tubular body unreinforced to maintain its flexibility for redirection operations. This localized quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If the catheter uses a simple tubular structure, then device complexity is reduced, but functionality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidredirection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is segmented into an external tubular body and an internal tubular body, adding functionality for redirection while maintaining relative structural simplicity. Each tubular body remains a basic tubular structure, but their combination provides advanced redirection capabilities that a single simple tube cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The internal tubular body is nested within the external tubular body, creating a compact structure that provides redirection functionality without significantly increasing overall device complexity. The nested configuration allows the internal body to move independently for redirection while the external body maintains the overall catheter structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20250303111A1Bendable guidewire lumen

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 STRAUSS BRADLEY HOWARD

AI summary

An aspect of some embodiments of the invention relate to a redirection microcatheter, comprising an external tubular body comprising a first proximal end and a first distal end; said first distal end comprising a distal end opening and at least one side opening; an internal tubular body sized and shaped to be inserted within said external tubular body; said internal tubular body comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end; said second distal end located adjacent to said at least one side opening; at least one actuator for translating said second distal end of said internal tubular body from an un-actuated position where said second distal end of said internal tubular body faces said distal opening to an actuated position where said second distal end of said internal tubular body faces said one or more side openings in said external tubular body.