Medical Catheter with Gradual Diameter Transition for Bending Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical tubes and catheters used for imaging diagnostics in blood vessels often experience degraded operability and bending due to rapid changes in outer diameter, which affect their flexural rigidity.
Innovation Solution
A medical tube design featuring a distal portion with a smaller outer diameter, inner diameter, and thickness, a proximal portion with larger dimensions, and an intermediate portion with gradually varying dimensions, made from crystalline resin, allowing for controlled flexural rigidity and improved operability by promoting crystallinity through annealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the outer diameter of the catheter rapidly varies along the extending direction, then the catheter can be made more flexible at the distal end, but the flexural rigidity changes greatly which degrades operability and bending resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter applies local quality by creating distinct regions with different properties: the distal portion has smaller outer diameter for flexibility and tracking, while the proximal portion has larger outer diameter for rigidity and pushing-in property. The intermediate portion provides a transition zone where dimensions gradually change, ensuring smooth variation in flexural rigidity without abrupt transitions that would cause bending or operational issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter structure dynamically adapts its flexural rigidity along its length to match different operational requirements at different locations. The gradual dimensional variation in the intermediate portion creates a dynamic transition in mechanical properties, allowing the catheter to exhibit appropriate flexibility where needed while maintaining structural integrity elsewhere.
2Ease of operation
If the outer diameter of the catheter rapidly varies along the extending direction, then the distal portion becomes softer for better insertion, but the catheter may bend during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter applies local quality by creating distinct regions with different properties: the distal portion has smaller outer diameter for flexibility and tracking, while the proximal portion has larger outer diameter for rigidity and pushing-in property. The intermediate portion provides a transition zone where dimensions gradually change, ensuring smooth variation in flexural rigidity without abrupt transitions that would cause bending or operational issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate portion acts as a cushioning transition zone that prevents abrupt changes in flexural rigidity. By gradually varying the dimensions in this intermediate region, the catheter avoids sudden transitions that could cause bending or structural instability during operation, thereby beforehand preventing potential reliability issues.
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 enhances the catheter's tracking and pushing-in properties, preventing bending by gradually changing rigidity along the axial direction, thus improving operability and reducing the risk of deformation during insertion and movement within the body.
Implementation Method 1
made from crystalline resin, allowing for controlled flexural rigidity and improved operability by promoting crystallinity through annealing
Data Source
AI summary
A medical tube includes a distal portion provided on one end side having a first outer diameter, a first inner diameter, and a first thickness; a proximal portion provided on the other end side having a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter, a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter, and a second thickness greater than the first thickness; and an intermediate portion provided between the distal portion and the proximal portion and having an outer diameter, an inner diameter, and a thickness which gradually vary. Thus, a medical tube is provided having improved operability and which reduces the likelihood of bending during an operation.