Radially Adjustable Coiled Strip for Medical Device Profile Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices, such as catheters, face limitations in expanding their profile beyond the introduction size, as traditional balloon inflation methods lack precision, cause full occlusion, and struggle with creating complex shapes.
Innovation Solution
The development of radially adjustable structures, like coiled strips, that can selectively increase and decrease in diameter, allowing for expansion and contraction without the need for balloon inflation, and can be integrated into medical devices for various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If balloon inflation is used to expand the medical device profile, then the device can achieve a larger diameter, but it causes full occlusion of passageways and lacks precision in the degree of expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The medical device employs a dynamically adjustable radially expandable structure that can change its diameter continuously and controllably, rather than being fixed or requiring full inflation like a balloon. This allows the device to expand only to the necessary degree for its function while maintaining passageway patency.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes adjustable structural parameters (radial expansion degree) to achieve the desired profile diameter without committing to full expansion. The expandable structure allows incremental parameter changes to match the minimum required diameter for the specific medical task.
2Volume of moving object
If balloon inflation is used to expand the medical device, then the device profile can be increased, but it lacks precision in controlling the degree of expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The radially expandable structure provides dynamic control over the expansion degree, allowing precise adjustment to any intermediate diameter between the collapsed and fully expanded states. This enables accurate positioning and sizing without the all-or-nothing constraint of balloon inflation.
3Length of moving object
If a low profile design is used for minimally invasive introduction, then the device can be inserted through small access points, but it inhibits the functionality requiring a larger profile
Solution Approach 1:
The medical device transitions from a low-profile introduction configuration to a larger functional configuration through controlled radial expansion of the radially expandable structure. This dynamic size transformation enables both minimally invasive insertion and subsequent full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The radially expandable structure allows the device to be collapsed into a compact form that nests within the introduction catheter or delivery system, then expand to its functional size once positioned. This nesting capability resolves the contradiction between small introduction profile and large functional profile.
4Volume of moving object
If traditional balloon expansion is used, then the device can achieve a larger profile, but it has difficulty creating fine or complex shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The radially expandable structure can be controlled to expand in specific patterns and sequences, enabling the formation of fine details and complex three-dimensional shapes. Unlike uniform balloon inflation, this structure allows differential expansion across different regions to create precise geometric configurations.
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
This solution enables medical devices to achieve precise expansion and contraction, avoiding occlusion issues and allowing for complex shape formation, thereby enhancing their functionality and versatility within the body.
Implementation Method 1
Adjacent layers of the strip may be slid relative to one another to increase or decrease the diameter of the radially adjustable structure
Implementation Method 2
The one or more motors may undergo expansion and contraction cycles to incrementally drive the radially adjustable structure through the change in diameter
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure concerns medical devices, such as catheters and implantable devices, having radially adjustable features. More particularly, the catheters and implantable devices can radially expand and contract to perform various functions within the body. Expansion and contraction can be performed by a radially adjustable structure mounted on the medical device. For example, a medical device can include a body configured for in vivo introduction, a strip attached to the body and rolled into a ring such that layers of the strip radially overlap each other, and at least one motor actuatable by electrical energy to move the radially overlapping layers of the strip relative to one another and change a diameter of the ring and the body.