Catheter Handle Locking Mechanism for Torque Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheters face challenges in navigating through tortuous and irregularly shaped patient anatomy, requiring precise steering and torqueing to align with anatomical features, which can be difficult due to recoiling forces and the need for high accuracy in guidewire orientation.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism with multiple states allows for controlled longitudinal and rotational movement of the catheter, featuring a handle with a tubular component that can be locked, semi-locked, or unlocked to facilitate precise positioning, including a sinusoidal collet and ridges/grooves interface for tactile feedback, enabling precise alignment and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the catheter is made flexible to navigate tortuous vasculature, then the catheter can navigate complex anatomies, but the catheter loses stiffness needed to be pushed through the vasculature and maintain orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter shaft is divided into multiple segments or sections with different mechanical properties. The proximal portion maintains sufficient stiffness for pushing and orientation control, while the distal portion remains flexible for navigating tortuous vasculature. This segmentation allows each section to fulfill its specific functional requirement without compromising the other.
2Ease of operation
If manual torqueing force is applied to rotate the catheter for proper alignment, then the catheter can be oriented correctly, but significant force is required to combat recoiling forces
Solution Approach 1:
A torque transmission mechanism acts as an intermediary between the operator's manual input and the catheter shaft. This mechanism efficiently transmits torque from the proximal portion to the distal portion, reducing the manual force required to overcome recoiling forces and achieve proper catheter alignment and orientation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the locking mechanism restricts longitudinal sliding to improve positioning precision, then alignment accuracy improves, but the ability to adjust position is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions between locked and unlocked states dynamically. When unlocked, the tubular component can slide longitudinally for position adjustment. When locked, longitudinal sliding is restricted to maintain precise positioning, while rotational movement may still be permitted for orientation adjustment. This dynamic state change allows the system to adapt between positioning and orientation needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A system (100) includes a handle (130), a sheath (122) attached to and distally extending from the handle (130), and a tubular component (102) slidingly disposed within the sheath (122). The handle (130) includes a locking mechanism (140) including an unlocked state in which the tubular component (102) is permitted to slide and rotate freely relative to the sheath (122), a locked state in which the tubular component (102) is not permitted to slide or rotate relative to the sheath (122), a first semi-locked state in which the tubular component (102) is permitted to slide freely relative to the sheath (122) and is not permitted to rotate freely in a circumferential direction relative to the sheath (122), and a second semi-locked state in which the tubular component (102) is not permitted to slide freely in a longitudinal direction relative to the sheath (122) and is permitted to rotate freely in a circumferential direction relative to the sheath (122).