Catheter Manipulable Portion Actuator Dynamics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional catheter systems face challenges in effectively manipulating portions within intra-bodily cavities, leading to difficulties in proper deployment, information gathering, and lesion formation during procedures like treating atrial fibrillation.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with enhanced manipulation capabilities, featuring a manipulable portion that can change size and shape through a set of actuators, allowing for precise deployment and activation of transducers within the body. The system includes a first actuator set for independent size and shape changes and a second actuator for controlling the state of the expanded configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a catheter system uses conventional manipulation methods, then the device structure remains simple, but the capability to effectively manipulate portions within intra-bodily cavities is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system employs a manipulable portion with actuators that can dynamically change the size and shape of the expanded configuration. The first actuator set independently varies size and shape, while the second actuator set controls the state of the expanded configuration, enabling adaptive manipulation within bodily cavities without permanent structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent describes a catheter system where the manipulable portion can be delivered in a compressed state through a catheter and then expanded at the target location. This nesting approach allows the complex manipulable portion with multiple actuators to be delivered through a simple catheter structure, resolving the contradiction between manipulation capability and device structure complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the manipulable portion is designed with fixed size and shape, then the device structure is simple, but the capability for precise deployment and activation of transducers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses actuators to dynamically adjust the size and shape of the manipulable portion, enabling precise positioning and orientation of transducers relative to anatomical features. This dynamic adjustment capability provides accurate positional information while managing device complexity through controlled actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates transducers that provide feedback on tissue characteristics, blood flow detection, and positional information. This feedback mechanism enables precise deployment and activation by continuously monitoring the environment and adjusting the manipulable portion's configuration accordingly.
3Productivity
If the catheter system uses percutaneous delivery, then patient recovery time is reduced, but the capability to deliver and deploy complex manipulable portions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The manipulable portion is designed to be nested within the catheter during delivery in a compressed, low-profile state suitable for percutaneous access. Once deployed at the target location, it expands to its full functional configuration with multiple actuators and transducers, enabling complex manipulation capabilities while maintaining minimally invasive delivery benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static delivery configuration to a dynamic expanded configuration with full manipulation capabilities. The actuators enable the manipulable portion to adapt its size and shape after deployment, providing versatile deployment capability while maintaining the efficiency of percutaneous delivery.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a medical system including a manipulable portion deliverable to a bodily cavity via a catheter sheath and coupled to actuators each configured to independently change a configuration of the manipulable portion. In at least one mode, however, at least one of the actuators is configured to move from one position to another to move at least another of the actuators away from an activation position to collectively change the configuration of the manipulable portion.