Cryoablation Balloon Catheter for Uniform Refrigerant Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryoablation catheters suffer from poor refrigeration efficiency due to non-uniform distribution of refrigeration fluid within the balloon, leading to ineffective heat exchange.
Innovation Solution
A cryoablation catheter design featuring a delivery catheter with fluid inflow and outflow cavities, a spray head with circumferentially arranged nozzle holes, and a reflow hole to ensure uniform distribution and circulation of refrigeration fluid within the balloon, enhancing heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If liquid is returned through the circulating liquid return cavity with cold source release structure as center, then the refrigeration system can operate, but the refrigeration effect is poor due to non-uniform distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The spray head is divided into multiple nozzle holes arranged circumferentially, segmenting the single liquid return path into multiple spray outlets. This segmentation allows the refrigeration fluid to be distributed uniformly across different locations within the balloon, transforming the concentrated non-uniform distribution into dispersed uniform distribution, thereby improving the refrigeration effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray head with multiple nozzle holes is nested within the delivery catheter structure, which itself is nested within the balloon. This nested arrangement allows the spray head to be positioned centrally while distributing fluid outward uniformly, creating a concentric distribution pattern that enhances refrigeration uniformity across the balloon wall.
2Productivity
If a spray head with multiple nozzle holes is introduced to improve uniform distribution, then refrigeration efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray head structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a distribution manifold for the refrigeration fluid, provides structural support for the nozzle holes, and maintains the fluid pathway from the liquid return cavity. By combining these functions into a single component, the design improves refrigeration efficiency without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The complexity is localized to the spray head component where it is most needed for fluid distribution, while the rest of the device maintains simpler structures. The nozzle holes are strategically positioned and sized to achieve uniform distribution with minimal additional complexity, concentrating the design effort only where it provides maximum benefit to refrigeration efficiency.
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 design achieves uniform heat exchange across the balloon, improving refrigeration efficiency and simplifying production and processing processes.
Implementation Method 1
the spray head has a plurality of nozzle holes circumferentially arranged on an exterior of the fluid inflow cavity
Implementation Method 2
a spray head that injects a liquid into the balloon
Implementation Method 3
improving refrigeration efficiency and simplifying production and processing processes
Implementation Method 4
uniform heat exchange across the balloon
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A cryoablation catheter, comprising a balloon (1) and a delivery catheter (2) passing through the balloon (1). The delivery catheter (2) is provided with a fluid inflow cavity (21) and a fluid outflow cavity (22) therein. The fluid inflow cavity (21) extends into the balloon (1), and a side wall of the fluid inflow cavity (21) is provided with a spray head (211) that injects a liquid into the balloon (1). The spray head (211) has a number of spray holes (2111, 2112) circumferentially arranged on the exterior of the fluid inflow cavity (21). An end of the fluid outflow cavity (22) has a cross section (24) that seals the fluid outflow cavity (22), and a side wall of the fluid outflow cavity (22) is provided with a reflow hole (221) in communication with the balloon (1). A fluid flows from the fluid inflow cavity (21) through the nozzle holes (2111, 2112) into the balloon (1). The nozzle holes (2111, 2112) are evenly distributed outside the fluid inflow cavity (21), so that the interior of the balloon (1) is uniformly filled with the refrigeration fluid, ensuring the uniformity of heat exchange at each part of the balloon (1) in an axial direction. The fluid then flows out from the reflow hole (221). The structural design can effectively improve the heat exchange efficiency of the fluid, and the production and processing processes are relatively simple.