X-Ray Opaque Catheter Tip Material for Long-Term Resin Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catheters containing metallic tungsten powder as an X-ray opaque material face resin deterioration due to hydrolysis, especially during long-term storage, compromising flexibility and functionality.
Innovation Solution
The use of tungsten carbide instead of metallic tungsten in the catheter tip, combined with specific resin additives, maintains flexibility and reduces resin deterioration by minimizing hydrolysis, while ensuring X-ray contrast ability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If metallic tungsten powder is used as an X-ray opaque material in the catheter tip, then X-ray contrast ability is improved, but resin deterioration occurs due to hydrolysis during long-term storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the X-ray opaque material from metallic tungsten powder to tungsten carbide particles. This parameter change resolves the contradiction because tungsten carbide does not promote hydrolysis of the resin, thereby maintaining resin stability during long-term storage while still providing adequate X-ray contrast ability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system consisting of tungsten carbide particles dispersed in a resin matrix containing specific antioxidants and light stabilizers. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by combining an X-ray opaque material (tungsten carbide) with protective additives that prevent resin deterioration, achieving both X-ray contrast and resin stability.
2Reliability
If tungsten carbide is incorporated into the catheter tip resin layer, then resin deterioration is reduced, but flexibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the particle diameter parameter of tungsten carbide to 1 to 10 μm. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by using sufficiently small particles that do not significantly compromise resin flexibility while maintaining adequate X-ray contrast ability and preventing resin deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by limiting the tungsten carbide content to specific ranges (1% to 50% by mass in the catheter tip resin layer) and concentrating protective additives (antioxidants and light stabilizers) in the catheter tip resin layer. This localized optimization maintains flexibility in the catheter tip while preventing resin deterioration.
3Reliability
If antioxidants and light stabilizers are added to the catheter tip resin layer, then resin deterioration is prevented, but the total additive content must be controlled to maintain flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of antioxidants and light stabilizers in the catheter tip resin layer, specifying that their total content should be less than 3% by mass. This parameter optimization prevents resin deterioration while maintaining catheter tip flexibility by avoiding excessive additive content that could compromise mechanical properties.
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
The catheter tip with tungsten carbide and resin additives maintains flexibility and X-ray visibility, reducing resin degradation even after long-term storage.
Implementation Method 1
the distal end portion of the catheter (catheter tip) typically contains an X-ray opaque material that enables detection by X-rays
Implementation Method 2
the catheter main body portion having a catheter main body portion resin layer containing at least one type of second additive selected from the group consisting of antioxidants and light stabilizers
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
There is provided a catheter that is unlikely to deteriorate even after long-term storage. There is provided a catheter including: a catheter tip having a catheter tip resin layer containing 1% by mass or more and less than 50% by mass of tungsten carbide (WC); and a catheter main body portion having a catheter main body portion resin layer containing at least one type of second additive selected from the group consisting of antioxidants and light stabilizers, in which the total content value of at least one type of first additive selected from the group consisting of antioxidants and light stabilizers contained in the catheter tip resin layer is less than the total content value of the second additive in the catheter main body portion resin layer, and the total content value of the first additive relative to the catheter tip resin layer is 0% by mass or more and less than 3% by mass.