Balloon Catheter Penetrating Element with Screw Thread Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for unblocking occlusions in vessels, such as arteries or veins, face challenges in maintaining alignment after a guide wire or boring tool has been withdrawn, making it difficult to direct subsequent instruments into the formed opening.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a penetrating element with a distal cutting edge and a guide bore, along with an external screw thread that engages with an internal screw thread in a guide element, allows for secure anchoring and continuous alignment, enabling the guiding of guide wires, boring tools, and instruments into occlusions by rotating the penetrating element within the guide bore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a balloon catheter is used to anchor the distal end in the vessel adjacent the occlusion, then the catheter can be securely positioned, but the distal end may slip out of alignment with the opening formed through the occlusion after the boring tool or guide wire is withdrawn
Solution Approach 1:
A guide element with a guide bore is introduced as an intermediary component between the penetrating element and the balloon catheter. The guide element maintains a fixed relationship with the penetrating element through screw thread engagement while being anchored by the balloon catheter, serving as a stable mediator that preserves alignment of the opening throughout the procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The guide element is positioned and anchored in the vessel before the boring tool is withdrawn. By establishing the guide element's position preliminarily, the alignment reference is set in advance, preventing misalignment when subsequent instruments need to be directed into the opening
2Reliability
If the penetrating element is rotated to engage the screw threads for anchoring, then secure fixation is achieved, but the complexity of the device increases due to the additional screw thread mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The screw thread mechanism serves multiple functions: it anchors the penetrating element to the guide element, maintains their relative positioning, and enables rotational engagement for secure fixation. This multi-functional design achieves reliable anchoring without requiring separate mechanisms for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
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
This solution ensures that a direct path is maintained into the occlusion, allowing for the successful placement of stents and other instruments without the risk of the guide bore becoming misaligned, facilitating procedures like stent deployment and maintaining the opening through the occlusion.
Implementation Method 1
an external screw thread, a guide element having a second guide bore extending therethrough for accommodating and guiding the penetrating element into engagement with the one of the occlusion and the wall of the vessel, at least a portion of the second guide bore comprising an internal screw thread for engaging and co-operating with the external screw thread of the penetrating element
Data Source
AI summary
A balloon catheter (1) including a device (3) adjacent the distal end (12) of a catheter (10) for guiding a boring tool (5) or other instrument into an occlusion (6) in a vessel (8), includes a guide element (30) adjacent the distal end (12). A penetrating element (33) having a first guide bore (38) terminating in a distal cutting edge (40) is rotatable in a second guide bore (45) extending through the guide element. External threads on the penetrating element (33) are engageable with internal threads in the second guide bore (45), so that by rotating the penetrating element (33) the distal cutting edge (40) is urged outwardly to penetrate the occlusion (6). With the penetrating element (33) securely engaged in the occlusion (6), a boring tool (5) and other instruments can then be sequentially guided through the catheter (10) and the first guide bore (38) directly into the occlusion.