Chamfered Flexible Jacket for Snag-Free Sheath Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical instruments for minimally invasive procedures face challenges in navigating anatomical passageways due to interference between flexible jackets and guard members, leading to snagging and delayed or prevented medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a sheath and elongate instrument with a flexible jacket and a guard member, featuring a chamfered distal end and an internally-tapered sheath channel, which reduces interference by using methods such as heat shrinking, ablating, or applying a laser to form a chamfer and taper, allowing smooth transition and reduced friction during insertion and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a flexible jacket is used on the elongate instrument, then flexibility and navigation capability are improved, but interference with the guard member occurs causing snagging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different geometric properties to different locations of the flexible jacket. Specifically, the distal end of the flexible jacket is chamfered to create a beveled surface, while the rest of the jacket maintains its cylindrical shape. This local modification at the distal end eliminates interference with the guard member during insertion and retraction, preventing snagging while preserving the flexibility and navigation capability of the entire instrument.
2Ease of operation
If the distal end of the flexible jacket is chamfered, then interference with the guard member is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the flexible jacket by applying a chamfer at the distal end. This changes the shape parameter from a simple cylinder to a cylinder with a beveled edge. The chamfer can be created through standard manufacturing processes such as cutting, grinding, or molding, which are routine operations that do not significantly increase manufacturing complexity despite the geometric modification.
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 solution enhances the flexibility and navigation of medical instruments, preventing snagging and ensuring smooth operation, thereby facilitating efficient and effective minimally invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
heat shrinking
Implementation Method 2
ablating
Implementation Method 3
applying a laser to form a chamfer and taper
Data Source
AI summary
A medical tool may comprise a sheath and an elongate instrument. The sheath may comprise a tubular shaft member including a sheath channel and a guard member coupled to a distal portion of the tubular shaft member. The guard member may comprise a rigid distal section and a flexible proximal section that is more flexible than the rigid distal section. The elongate instrument may be sized for passage within the sheath channel. The elongate instrument may comprise a flexible tubular section and a rigid tip extending from a distal portion of the flexible tubular section.