Catheter Braided Structure with Variable Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing braided structures lack flexibility variation along the axial direction, leading to inconsistent performance and increased bending at connection points between different braided portions.
Innovation Solution
A braided structure is designed with seamlessly connected first and second braided portions, where the first portion features crossing wires with opposite winding directions and the second portion has wires wound in the same direction, allowing for adjustable flexibility and reduced bending at connection points by varying the winding interval and direction of the wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a braid is formed with fiber yarns crossing each other at equal intervals over an entire length, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the flexibility is uniform throughout the axial direction which limits adaptability to different operational requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter shaft is divided into multiple portions along the axial direction, with each portion having distinct braiding characteristics. The first portion has fiber yarns crossing at equal intervals while the second portion has fiber yarns crossing at unequal intervals, creating different flexibility characteristics in different segments to match varying operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the catheter shaft are assigned different local properties through varied braiding patterns. The first portion uses a uniform braiding pattern for consistent flexibility, while the second portion uses a varied braiding pattern to provide enhanced flexibility or rigidity in specific regions, allowing the shaft to adapt to different operational needs at different locations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple braided portions with different flexibility are connected, then flexibility can be tailored along the catheter length, but bending occurs at the connection points between portions
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second braided portions are seamlessly connected without visible joints or connection points. The fiber yarns continue uninterrupted from one portion to the next, merging the two different braiding patterns into a single continuous structure that eliminates bending at connection points while maintaining different flexibility characteristics along the shaft length.
3Ease of manufacture
If the same braiding pattern is used throughout the entire shaft length, then manufacturing is simplified, but the catheter cannot provide region-specific flexibility for optimal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is segmented into distinct phases: first braiding the fiber yarns with a uniform pattern for the first portion, then switching to a varied braiding pattern for the second portion. This segmentation allows different flexibility characteristics to be created in different regions while maintaining a relatively simple overall manufacturing process that can be implemented using conventional braiding equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter includes a shaft, a first wire wound in a spiral shape around an axis of the shaft, and a second wire wound around the shaft in a direction opposite to that of the first wire in a first portion, and wound around the shaft in a direction identical to that of the first wire in a second portion. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a braided structure and the like having flexibility that differs depending on the area in an axial direction.