Catheter Balloon Segmented Reinforcement Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Balloon catheters face challenges in flexibility due to reinforcement members being integrally fixed, making it difficult to maintain sufficient flexibility and maneuverability within body lumens while providing high-pressure resistance and low compliance properties.
Innovation Solution
A catheter design featuring a balloon with an inner and outer elastic layer and a tubularly net-shaped reinforcement member between them, where the reinforcement member's end portions and intermediate portion are not directly fixed to the layers, allowing for axial and circumferential movement, enhancing flexibility and maneuverability while maintaining high-pressure resistance and low compliance properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a reinforcement member is integrally fixed to the balloon wall, then high-pressure resistance and low compliance properties are achieved, but flexibility and maneuverability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement member is divided into multiple independent segments along its length, with each segment positioned between the inner and outer layers but not continuously fixed. This segmentation allows the reinforcement to provide structural support while permitting relative movement between segments, thereby maintaining flexibility and maneuverability while achieving high-pressure resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement member is designed to be movable relative to the balloon layers rather than being statically fixed. The segments can shift position along the inner and outer layers during balloon inflation and deflation, allowing the structure to adapt dynamically to pressure changes and maintain both strength and flexibility.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a reinforcement member is integrally fixed to the balloon wall, then low compliance properties are achieved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the reinforcement member into discrete segments rather than a continuous fixed structure, the balloon maintains its compositional stability and low compliance during inflation while allowing the segments to move relative to each other, preserving flexibility for navigation through body lumens.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement member's position and orientation parameters are allowed to change relative to the balloon layers during operation. The segments can shift along the layers without compromising the overall structural integrity or compliance characteristics of the balloon.
3Ease of operation
If the reinforcement member is not fixed to the layers, then flexibility is improved, but high-pressure resistance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The inner and outer layers act as intermediary structures that contain and guide the movable reinforcement segments. During high-pressure inflation, the layers transmit and distribute the pressure forces to the reinforcement segments, ensuring that the segments provide adequate structural support even while maintaining the ability to move relative to the layers.
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 design improves the catheter's flexibility and maneuverability within body lumens, allowing for effective lesion treatment with high-pressure resistance and controlled inflation, and enables the balloon to easily restore its original shape after deflation, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The inner and outer layers possess elastic stretching properties, have tubular shapes, and are able to be inflated and deflated in response to a change of internal pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter including a balloon. The balloon has an elastic inner layer and an elastic outer layer. The inner and outer layers are tubular and are inflatable and deflatable in response to a change of internal pressure of the balloon. The catheter includes a tubular reinforcement member positioned radially between the inner layer and the outer layer. The reinforcement member has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion in the axial direction of the catheter. The reinforcement member has an intermediate portion between the first end portion and the second end portion in the axial direction. At least one of the first and second end portions is not directly fixed to both the inner layer and the outer layer. The intermediate portion is not directly fixed to both the inner layer and the outer layer.