Electrophysiology Catheter Handle with Frangible Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrophysiology catheters face challenges in accessing and maintaining the internal components, such as electronic circuitry and steering mechanisms, which are sealed within the handle, making repair, reprogramming, and sterilization processes difficult and potentially damaging.
Innovation Solution
A control handle design with a frangible thin-walled portion that allows the housing to be separated into two sections, providing access to the internal components for repair, reprogramming, and sterilization, while maintaining the integrity of the catheter's functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the handle housing is sealed to protect internal components, then reliability is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The handle housing is divided into two separable halves that can be detached from each other. This segmentation allows the housing to remain sealed during normal operation for protection, while enabling easy access to internal components when repair or maintenance is needed by simply separating the two halves.
2Reliability
If the handle housing is sealed to prevent contamination, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is manufactured as two separate halves that can be independently produced and then joined together. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing each half to be produced separately with standard molding techniques, while the joining mechanism (such as ultrasonic welding or interlocking features) ensures a sealed assembly that prevents contamination.
3Reliability
If the housing is made robust and sealed, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing transitions from a static sealed structure to a dynamic structure that can open and close. The two halves are designed with joining mechanisms (such as snap-fit features, threaded connections, or ultrasonic welds) that provide structural integrity when closed but can be easily separated when needed for maintenance or repair operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter for the treatment of tissue, particularly for the treatment of cardiac tissue to alleviate cardiac arrhythmias includes a handle housing a combination of steering components, electronic circuitry and/or infusion tubing. An interior notch in the handle around a circumference of the handle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle provides a means for access to the sealed handle in case a repair to the interior components is necessary during manufacture or reprocessing. The circumferential frangible connection of the two halves of the handle provides access without the use of cutting or drilling devices that could damage the interior components.