Image Diagnostic Catheter Positioning Mechanism for Optical Ultrasound Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The dual-type image diagnosis catheter lacks a mechanism to fix the relative position of the optical transmitter and receiver with respect to the ultrasound transmitter and receiver, making it difficult to maintain the transmission direction of light in a fixed direction with respect to the ultrasound transmission direction, resulting in manufacturing challenges.
Innovation Solution
The image diagnosis catheter incorporates a positioning mechanism that fixes the optical transmitter and receiver with respect to the ultrasound transmitter and receiver, ensuring the transmission direction of light remains aligned with the ultrasound transmission direction through the use of a positioning member that attaches to the housing, allowing precise alignment during assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If no positioning mechanism is provided, then the device structure is simpler, but the manufacturing precision and alignment of optical and ultrasound transmitters deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a positioning mechanism during the manufacturing stage that defines and maintains the precise relative positions of the optical transmitter and ultrasound transmitter. This positioning mechanism is built into the catheter structure beforehand, eliminating the need for complex post-assembly adjustments and ensuring consistent alignment precision across all manufactured units without requiring overly complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If a positioning mechanism is added, then the manufacturing precision and alignment are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the positioning function with the existing catheter structure by integrating the positioning mechanism into the housing that already contains both the optical transmitter and ultrasound transmitter. Rather than adding a separate, independent positioning system, the positioning features are combined with the structural elements already present in the catheter, thereby achieving precise alignment without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(A)~2(B)
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AI summary
[Problem] There is provided an image diagnosis catheter capable of maintaining a transmission direction of light in a fixed direction with respect to a transmission direction of an ultrasound. [Means for Resolution] An image diagnosis catheter (100) includes a rotatable drive shaft (140), a sheath (110) into which the drive shaft is inserted, a housing (146) provided at a distal end of the drive shaft and accommodating an ultrasound transmitter and receiver (145a) and an optical transmitter and receiver (145b), and a positioning member (220) fixed to the housing and fixing a relative position of the optical transmitter and receiver with respect to the ultrasound transmitter and receiver.