Asymmetric Catheter Articulation for Planar Tip Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheters lack the ability to steer predictably and maintain planarity during navigation through complex patient anatomy, particularly in interventional electrophysiology procedures, leading to potential misalignment and reduced efficacy in delivering therapy or mapping heart tissue.
Innovation Solution
A steerable catheter design featuring an articulation member with longitudinally arranged tubular segments and connecting segments in a specific plane configuration, combined with steering wire lumens and reinforcing members, allows for controlled deflection in one direction while resisting deflection in another, maintaining planarity and enhancing directional control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a catheter is designed to be steerable through complex patient anatomy, then the catheter can navigate to target locations in heart chambers, but the catheter may lose planarity and predictable deflection control
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter shaft is divided into multiple tubular segments that can articulate relative to each other at connecting segments, allowing controlled deflection while maintaining overall structural integrity and predictable behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation member features asymmetric slit placement with slits positioned only on one side of the shaft, creating planar deflection characteristics that maintain predictable deflection in a specific plane while navigating complex anatomy
2Adaptability or versatility
If the catheter allows deflection in multiple directions to navigate complex anatomy, then the catheter can reach various target locations, but the catheter cannot maintain alignment with a specific plane (y-z plane)
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation member has different structural properties at different locations: slits are positioned only on one side to enable deflection in the y-z plane while the opposite side remains solid to resist deflection and maintain planarity
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric placement of slits creates inherent planar deflection characteristics, allowing the catheter to deflect predictably in the y-z plane while maintaining alignment with that plane during navigation
3Ease of operation
If the catheter uses a symmetric articulation structure, then the catheter can deflect in all directions, but the catheter lacks directional control and predictable deflection behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric articulation structure with slits on one side only provides inherent directional control for planar deflection in the y-z plane, simplifying the control mechanism while achieving predictable deflection behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation member allows dynamic deflection within the y-z plane through steering wires while maintaining structural stability and planarity through the asymmetric slit configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes a handle and a tubular shaft extending from the handle, and a distal portion having a deflection region. The shaft includes a jacket and an articulation member within the jacket. The articulation member has a proximal and distal articulation regions and comprises longitudinally-arranged tubular segments and connecting segments, wherein adjacent tubular segments are joined by respective connecting segments, and wherein the connecting segments are disposed in a first plane, and wherein diametrically opposed slit pairs are disposed longitudinally along the articulation member, each slit pair separating adjacent tubular segments and being centered on a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane. The proximal articulation region is configured to articulate in a first direction and to resist articulation in a second, opposite direction. The distal articulation region is configured to articulate in both the first and second directions.