Catheter Receptacle With Laterally Facing Opening For Pacemaker

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing implantable cardiac pacemaker systems face challenges with mechanical and MRI compatibility issues due to elongate lead wires, prompting the need for compact devices that can be implanted closer to the pacing site, and there is a requirement for a more efficient method to secure the device to the catheter during implantation procedures.

Innovation Solution

A compact implantable medical device with a receptacle at the distal end of the catheter's inner assembly shaft, featuring a laterally facing opening that matches the head and neck contour of the device's holding member, and a lock and release mechanism using an arcuate sidewall for secure passage and detachment, allowing for easy loading and deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the device is secured to the catheter using traditional tether methods, then the device can be attached to the catheter, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of device loadingVSAvoidtime for securing device
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle is pre-formed at the distal end of the catheter shaft with a laterally facing opening and interior contour ready to receive the holding member. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for tedious tether manipulation during the procedure, allowing the operator to simply align and insert the device holding member into the pre-configured receptacle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacle acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates the connection between the catheter and the implantable device. Instead of using complex tethers and manual securing methods, the receptacle provides a direct interface with a laterally facing opening that guides and receives the holding member, simplifying the loading process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the device is made compact for implantation near the pacing site, then mechanical and MRI compatibility issues are reduced, but the device requires a specialized receptacle structure with laterally facing opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical and MRI compatibilityVSAvoidcatheter receptacle structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle incorporates a laterally facing opening that is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft. This dimensional change in the opening orientation allows the holding member to be inserted from the side rather than from the distal end, simplifying the loading mechanism while maintaining compact device dimensions for improved mechanical and MRI compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If the receptacle opening is designed to match the holding member profile exactly, then proper orientation is ensured during passage, but any misalignment causes deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening profile matchingVSAvoidpassage without deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The laterally facing opening is designed with an asymmetric profile that precisely matches the asymmetric geometry of the holding member's head and neck. This asymmetric design ensures that the holding member can only be inserted in the correct orientation, preventing misalignment and deformation while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3448490B1Interventional medical systems and associated assemblies
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 MEDTRONIC INC
  • EP3448490B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3448490B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3448490B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A catheter inner assembly includes a receptacle with an interior contour configured to mate with a head and neck contour of a holding member of an implantable medical device; and a laterally facing opening of the receptacle has a profile matching a longitudinal profile of the head and neck. Thus, the opening allows only a properly oriented passage of the holding member therethrough, the passage being without deformation of holding member or opening. The inner assembly further includes a lock and release member useful for securing the device to the catheter, when the holding member has been passed through the receptacle's opening to mate with the receptacle's interior contour. The lock and release member may include an arcuate sidewall moveable between a first location, at which the sidewall overlays the laterally facing opening, and a second location, at which the sidewall is located proximal to the opening.