Catheter Movable Indicator for Balloon Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Catheters with balloons used in angioplasty procedures face challenges in accurate alignment due to misalignment of marker bands, especially in low light conditions and with small catheter sizes, leading to potential geographic misalignment and inferior treatment outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with a movable indicator, such as a repositionable collar or magnifier, that enhances the visibility of markings along the catheter shaft, allowing for precise positioning and alignment of the balloon with the treatment area, even in low light conditions, and ensures repeatable and accurate insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visible markings are provided on the catheter shaft to facilitate insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but the markings become difficult to perceive under fluoroscopy in low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs radiopaque markings that appear bright white under fluoroscopy, creating high contrast against the darker background. This allows the markings to remain visible and easily perceptible despite the low light conditions inherent in fluoroscopic imaging, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and visibility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the catheter size is reduced to minimize trauma, then object-generated harmful factors are reduced, but the circumferential surface area is reduced limiting marking size and accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent concentrates the marking information into highly localized, intense radiopaque bands rather than distributed markings. This allows small catheters to have sufficiently large and accurate markings at specific locations without increasing overall catheter size, thereby maintaining both low trauma and high marking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical properties of the markings by using radiopaque materials that appear bright under fluoroscopy. This parameter change allows the markings to be both small (suitable for thin catheters) and highly visible/accurate, resolving the contradiction between reduced catheter size and maintained marking precision.
3Measurement precision
If marker bands are attached to indicate balloon position, then measurement precision is improved, but misalignment occurs between marker bands and working surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the marker band function with the balloon structure itself by making the balloon radiopaque or integrating radiopaque elements directly into the balloon. This eliminates the separate marker band attachment step that causes misalignment, ensuring the indication markings always accurately reflect the actual balloon position and working surface location.
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 movable indicator ensures accurate positioning of the balloon catheter, reducing the risk of misalignment and prolonging procedures, thereby improving the effectiveness and reliability of interventional medical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The indicator has an outer diameter greater than a diameter of the entrance and comprises a magnifier
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
An apparatus for performing a medical procedure is provided. A catheter includes a tubular body having a plurality of markings indicative of a distance to an end portion of the catheter. A movable indicator repositionable on the tubular body to indicate a position of at least one of the plurality of markings. The indicator may also be provided with a magnifier for facilitating reading any indicia on the catheter.