Braided Microcatheter Structure for Tortuous Vessel Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microcatheters face challenges in navigating through narrow and tortuous blood vessels due to the need for a stiff proximal end for manipulation and a flexible distal end for passage, while minimizing trauma to blood vessels and surrounding tissue.
Innovation Solution
A microcatheter design utilizing polymers with unique properties combined with a metallic braid, featuring a low durometer polymer for flexibility at the distal end and a higher durometer polymer for rigidity at the proximal end, ensuring exceptional strength, resistance to kinking, and improved navigation through convoluted vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the microcatheter is made stiff at the proximal end to allow manipulation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the flexibility at the distal end deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The microcatheter is divided into multiple sections with different material properties: a proximal portion with higher durometer polymer for manipulation and a distal portion with lower durometer polymer for flexibility. This segmentation allows each section to have optimized characteristics for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the microcatheter are made from polymers with different durometer values. The proximal end uses higher durometer material for stiffness and manipulation, while the distal end uses lower durometer material for flexibility and vessel navigation, creating local quality variations throughout the device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the microcatheter is made flexible at the distal end to pass through tortuous vessels, then the adaptability is improved, but the strength and resistance to kinking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The microcatheter combines polymer materials with different durometer properties in a single device structure. The composite construction allows the distal end to be flexible for vessel navigation while the proximal end provides strength and kinking resistance through higher durometer material.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into functional zones: a distal portion with low durometer polymer for flexibility and vessel penetration, and a proximal portion with high durometer polymer for strength and kinking resistance. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different material properties to different sections.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single polymer material is used throughout the microcatheter, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the performance optimization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The microcatheter employs local quality variations by using different polymer durometer values in different sections. The proximal end uses higher durometer material for manipulation strength, while the distal end uses lower durometer material for flexibility, optimizing performance for each functional requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcatheter exhibits dynamic property variations along its length, transitioning from stiff proximal material to flexible distal material. This dynamic characterization of material properties throughout the device allows simultaneous optimization of manipulation ease and vessel navigation capability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
AI summary
A microcatheter comprising an inner layer, a strike layer and an outer layer and a braided skeleton located between the inner layer and the outer layer, wherein the inner layer is made of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and has a thickness of 0.0015 inch or less, wherein the strike layer includes a polyether block amide and has a thickness of 0.001 inch or less, and wherein a distal portion of said outer layer is made of polycarbonate-based thermoplastic polyurethane having a shore of 90A or below.