Steerable Catheter Pull Wire Electrical Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steerable catheters face challenges in making electrical contact with transducers at their distal ends, which often requires increasing the catheter diameter, limiting navigability.

Innovation Solution

The steerable catheter uses pull wires to establish electrical contact with a piezoelectric transducer at its distal end, eliminating the need for additional electrical conductors and maintaining flexibility by integrating the electrical connections within the existing structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional electrical conductors are added to make electrical contact with the transducer, then electrical connectivity is improved, but catheter diameter increases which limits navigability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectivityVSAvoidcatheter diameter

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the electrical conductor function with the existing pull wire structure. The pull wire serves dual purposes: mechanical steering and electrical connection to the piezoelectric transducer. This merging eliminates the need for separate electrical conductors, maintaining electrical connectivity while avoiding increased catheter diameter that would compromise navigability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pull wire is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical tension for steering the catheter tip and serves as an electrical conductor to transmit signals to the piezoelectric transducer. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for additional components that would increase catheter diameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the catheter diameter is increased to accommodate electrical conductors, then electrical contact is achieved, but flexibility and navigability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contactVSAvoidnavigability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the electrical conductor function into the existing pull wire, the patent achieves electrical contact without increasing catheter diameter. The pull wire remains within the existing structural constraints, preserving the catheter's flexibility and navigability while reliably connecting to the piezoelectric transducer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pull wire structure serves itself by simultaneously providing both mechanical steering capability and electrical conduction. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate electrical conductors that would increase diameter and compromise navigability, allowing the catheter to maintain its operational characteristics while achieving electrical contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 allows for improved navigability and flexibility of the steerable catheter while maintaining effective electrical connectivity to the piezoelectric transducer, enhancing its usability in medical procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric transducer (106) comprising a first electrode (107) and a second electrode (108)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

the first pull wire (104) and the second pull wire (105) are each mechanically coupled to the tubular body (101) at respective first and second offset positions (109, 110) with respect to the longitudinal axis (102) for imparting a curvature on the distal portion (103) of the catheter (100)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical force transmission: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

the piezoelectric transducer may be used to track a position of a distal end of the catheter respective an ultrasound field of a beamforming ultrasound imaging probe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasound interaction: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentUS11617860B2Steerable catheter with piezoelectric transducer

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A steerable medical catheter includes a tubular body having a longitudinal axis and a distal portion for insertion into a subject, a first pull wire, a second pull wire, and a piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer includes a first electrode and a second electrode. At the distal portion of the catheter the first pull wire and the second pull wire are each mechanically coupled to the tubular body at respective first and second offset positions with respect to the longitudinal axis for imparting a curvature on the distal portion of the catheter. At the distal portion of the catheter the first pull wire is electrically connected to the first electrode of the piezoelectric transducer and the second pull wire is electrically connected to the second electrode of the piezoelectric transducer.