Catheter Variable Radius Loop With Neck Constraint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrophysiology catheters face challenges in precisely placing the looped section within the pulmonary vein ostia due to varying patient anatomies, often resulting in unintended deflection of the catheter neck during radius adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A catheter design featuring a handle with an actuator, an activation wire, and a shape memory wire, along with a tube-shaped constraint in the neck region to prevent nodding, allowing for adjustable loop radius and maintaining stability during adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the radius of the loop portion is adjusted to fit varying patient anatomies, then the adaptability of the catheter is improved, but the neck of the catheter deflects unintentionally causing placement imprecision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloop radius adjustmentVSAvoidloop placement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A constraint member is introduced as an intermediary element between the loop portion and the handle. This constraint member physically couples these regions and prevents relative movement between them, thereby preventing neck deflection during loop radius adjustment while maintaining placement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter is divided into distinct functional regions (handle, neck, loop portion) with a constraint member connecting specific segments. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region's function while maintaining controlled relationships between them

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables precise placement and adjustment of the catheter loop within the pulmonary vein ostia without unintended deflection, ensuring accurate anatomical fitting and effective diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Implementation Method 1

a shape memory wire extending through the neck and at least a portion of the distal region and shaping the portion of the distal region into the at least a partial loop

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

a tube-shaped constraint within the neck that prevents nodding of the neck when the activation wire is activated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 3

the activation wire is activated to cause the at least a partial loop of the distal region to vary in radius

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11375954B2Catheter with variable radius loop

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 ST JUDE MEDICAL CARDILOGY DIV INC

AI summary

A catheter includes a body having a proximal region that extends along a longitudinal axis, a distal region predisposed into a loop via shaping wire, and a neck region between the proximal and distal regions. The loop is disposed in a plane generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. An activation wire is coupled to the distal region and to an actuator in a manner that allows a user to adjust the radius of the loop. The activation and shaping wires are contained within a tube-shaped constraint, such as a spring coil, within the neck in order to the neck from nodding when the activation wire is activated.