Catheter Design Tool for Patient-Specific Profile Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing catheter design process is slow and expensive due to the lengthy design-build-test-implant cycle, and it is challenging to select the most suitable catheter for patients, especially in pediatric cases, given the variability in catheter shapes and stiffness distributions, which can lead to inefficiencies in delivering therapy effectively.
Innovation Solution
A tool that selects and designs optimal catheter profiles based on realistic anatomical measurements, incorporating heuristics for catheter design, such as stiff and compliant sections, and provides data on successful catheter paths within anatomy, allowing for preoperative guidance and intraoperative optimization using preoperative/perioperative decision-making and intraoperative guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional design-build-test-implant cycle is used for catheter development, then catheter functionality can be achieved, but development time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary virtual testing and validation of catheter designs through computational simulations before physical manufacturing. Multiple catheter designs are evaluated in silico against patient-specific anatomical models to predict performance, eliminating the need for iterative physical prototyping and reducing the design-build-test cycle time while maintaining functionality requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital replicas of patient anatomies and catheter designs for virtual testing. These computational models serve as copies that allow extensive simulation and evaluation without requiring physical prototypes, significantly reducing development time while preserving the functional assessment capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple catheter profiles with varying shapes and stiffness distributions are available, then catheter adaptability to different patients is improved, but catheter selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-driven catheter selection system that uses computational simulations to evaluate how each catheter profile performs with specific patient anatomies. The system provides feedback on predicted catheter performance metrics, enabling clinicians to select the most suitable catheter based on objective data rather than navigating complex variability manually
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies catheter parameters such as stiffness distribution, shape, and flexibility in computational models to generate a library of candidate designs. By parameterizing the catheter characteristics and evaluating them through simulation, the system manages the complexity of multiple profiles through structured variation rather than uncontrolled diversity
3Reliability
If catheter design is customized for individual patient anatomy, then implant success rate is improved, but design and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary customization of catheter designs by generating patient-specific anatomical models from medical imaging data and simulating catheter performance in silico before manufacturing. This upfront virtual customization identifies the optimal catheter profile for each patient without requiring complex manual design iterations or expensive custom manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates patient-specific digital copies of anatomical structures from imaging data and uses these replicas to simulate and optimize catheter designs. This digital copying approach enables personalized catheter planning without the complexity of physical custom fabrication, as the customized design can be produced using standard manufacturing processes
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a catheter design tool and methods thereof for selecting or designing an optimal catheter profile for a particular patient or group of patients. For example, the tool includes a data set (e.g., input into the system) pertaining to a plurality of anatomy parameters and a plurality of catheter parameters to determine one or more catheter profiles that allow the best implant efficacy for a particular patient or group of patients. Specifically, the tool evaluates the efficacy of a particular catheter profile for use with a particular patient, the most optimal catheter profile from a plurality of catheter profiles for use with a particular patient, and/or the most optimal catheter profile from a plurality of catheter profiles for use with a group of patients.