Catheter Bending Indicators for Single-View Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical device deployment methods, such as catheters and guide tubes, require multiple imaging views and equipment setups to accurately position and orient devices within the body, increasing procedure complexity, time, and cost.
Innovation Solution
Equipping medical devices with strain gauges or bending indicators that provide stress information to determine orientation within anatomical reference planes, combined with fluoroscopic imaging from a single direction, allows for efficient and reliable positioning and orientation of the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple fluoroscopes or sequential imaging setups are used to obtain adequate imaging views, then measurement precision and reliability of device positioning are improved, but device complexity and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of markers attached to the medical device and a detection system that tracks these markers. This intermediary approach allows single-view fluoroscopy to provide sufficient positioning information by detecting marker positions and calculating device orientation, eliminating the need for multiple fluoroscopes or sequential imaging setups while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If multiple fluoroscopes or sequential imaging setups are used to obtain adequate imaging views, then measurement precision and reliability of device positioning are improved, but loss of time and procedure cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching markers to the medical device before the procedure. These markers are positioned in known configurations that encode orientation information. During the procedure, a single fluoroscopy view can immediately detect these markers and determine device orientation without requiring sequential imaging setups, significantly reducing procedure time while maintaining orientation verification accuracy.
3Ease of operation
If strain gauges and bending indicators are integrated into the catheter, then ease of operation and positioning accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by integrating strain gauges and bending indicators directly into the catheter structure. These sensors automatically detect catheter bending and orientation without requiring external measurement equipment. The catheter essentially measures its own position and orientation, providing real-time feedback to the operator through the markers and detection system, thereby improving ease of operation despite the increased structural complexity.
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
This approach reduces the need for multiple imaging equipment and procedural complications, shortening procedure time, lowering costs, and enhancing patient safety by minimizing anesthesia and radiation exposure.
Implementation Method 1
This catheter is equipped with strain gauges along its wall, which measure localized stresses in the wall as the tube bends along a curved path
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for simply and reliably determining the location and orientation of a medical device within a patient's body. A medical device, such as a catheter, has bending indicators on or imbedded in its wall, and passes through an anatomical reference of known orientation relative to a target site within the patient. Information from the tube bending indicators permits determination of the orientation of a feature, such as an orifice, at the distal end of the medical device relative to the anatomical reference. From the known orientation of the anatomical reference, and information on the location and orientation of the distal end of the medical device obtained from fluoroscopic imaging from a single direction, the physician may reliably determine the orientation of the distal feature relative to the target site, eliminating the need for imaging from multiple directions.