Catheter Handle Rack Gear Mechanism for Position Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steerable catheters face challenges in maintaining a fixed position due to slippage in the control mechanism, making it difficult to accurately guide and position the catheter during medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A steerable catheter design featuring a steering wire affixed to slidable racks within a catheter handle, where operating a knob rotates a rack gear to move the racks in opposite directions, pulling or feeding the steering wire to provide precise steering control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a control mechanism is used to deflect the distal end of the catheter tube, then steering capability is improved, but position stability deteriorates due to slippage in the control mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical control mechanism with a magnetic field-based control system. Magnets embedded in the catheter tip interact with an external magnetic field generated by a steering device, eliminating mechanical slippage while maintaining steering capability. This substitution of mechanical control with magnetic control directly resolves the position stability issue caused by mechanical slippage.
2Device complexity
If a simple control mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates in maintaining fixed catheter position
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic control system replaces complex mechanical mechanisms with a simpler magnetic field interaction system. The magnets in the catheter tip respond precisely to external magnetic field variations, enabling accurate position control without complex mechanical components. This achieves both simplicity and precision simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field acts as an intermediary between the operator and the catheter tip. By controlling the magnetic field through an external device, precise positioning is achieved without direct mechanical contact, eliminating slippage while maintaining system simplicity.
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 ability to maintain a fixed position, providing reliable and accurate steering control, which is essential for precise medical procedures such as electrophysiology studies and catheter ablation.
Implementation Method 1
a rack gear is disposed between the teeth of each rack and directly engages the racks, and a knob is attached to the rack gear. Operating the knob rotates the rack gear and causes the racks to move in opposite directions thereby pulling or feeding one of the wire legs within the catheter tube
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter handle for a steerable catheter. A catheter tube is connected to the catheter handle. A steering wire has a center point and two legs, the center point is affixed to a distal tip of the catheter tube, and each of the two legs of the steering wire is affixed to a respective rack of a pair of racks inside the catheter handle. Each of the racks of the pair of racks is toothed and slidable and the racks are mounted in opposition to each other within the catheter handle. A first gear is disposed between the racks and a gear train is positioned to engage the first gear. The gear train is sized to provide a transmission gain to the first gear. A knob is attached to the gear train and operating the knob rotates the gear train to engage the first gear and causes the racks to slide in opposite directions thereby pulling one of the two legs to deflect a distal end of the catheter tube.