Diagnostic Imaging Catheter Relay Connector Injection Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diagnostic imaging catheters face challenges in reducing flow path resistance during the priming process without increasing the gap between the sheath and the drive shaft, which can lead to deformation of the drive shaft and poor image acquisition.
Innovation Solution
The diagnostic imaging catheter incorporates a relay connector with an injection opening located closer to the distal side than the seal member, allowing for reduced flow path resistance by shortening the flow path length and preventing the priming liquid from contacting the drive shaft, while maintaining the gap between the sheath and drive shaft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the gap between the sheath and drive shaft is increased to reduce flow path resistance, then the flow path resistance is reduced, but the vibration of the transmitting and receiving unit becomes large causing poor image acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter structure is segmented into multiple functional zones: a priming liquid injection region with a larger gap for low resistance, and an imaging region with a smaller gap for high image quality. The sheath and drive shaft are divided into first and second portions with different gap dimensions, allowing each segment to optimize for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different gap sizes are applied locally to different portions of the catheter. The first portion (proximal to distal) has a first gap size optimized for priming liquid flow, while the second portion (distal to proximal) has a second gap size optimized for minimizing vibration during imaging. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both flow resistance and image quality.
2Loss of energy
If a priming port is provided at the unit connector to reduce flow path length, then the flow path resistance is reduced, but the priming liquid may directly contact the drive shaft causing deformation or damage
Solution Approach 1:
A support tube is introduced as an intermediary component between the priming liquid injection path and the drive shaft. The support tube receives the priming liquid through a communication hole and guides it to the sheath, preventing direct contact between the priming liquid and the drive shaft while still allowing the priming process to proceed efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The support tube is nested within the drive shaft structure, creating a protected pathway for priming liquid flow. The communication hole is formed through the support tube, which is positioned concentrically with the drive shaft, allowing the priming liquid to flow through the support tube's interior space without exposing the drive shaft to the liquid.
3Ease of operation
If the flow path length is shortened to reduce resistance, then the priming process becomes smoother, but the structural complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The support tube serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a structural support element for the drive shaft, provides a protected pathway for priming liquid flow, and creates the communication hole for liquid injection. By making the support tube multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby minimizing the increase in structural complexity while achieving smooth priming operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A diagnostic imaging catheter includes a drive shaft provided with a signal transmitting and receiving unit at a distal portion thereof and which is rotatable and movable forward and backward, a sheath into which the drive shaft is inserted, a relay connector coupled to a proximal end of the sheath, a support tube provided at an outer circumference of the drive shaft along an axial direction and which moves forward and backward in conjunction with the drive shaft, a seal member provided inside the relay connector and which seals a space between the relay connector and the support tube, and an injection opening located in a region closer to a distal side than the seal member and closer to a proximal side than a distal end of the support tube in a backward movement limit position thereof and via which a liquid is able to be injected into the sheath.