Deflectable Catheter Shaft Segmented Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheters lack the ability to independently and precisely deflect their distal and proximal portions for effective maneuvering and positioning of ultrasound transducers or therapeutic devices within the heart, limiting their ability to achieve desired angulation radii and orientation.
Innovation Solution
A deflectable catheter shaft design featuring a distal portion with pivoting hollow cylindrical segments and pullwire tunnels, allowing for independent deflection of the distal and proximal portions through pullwires, enabling precise control and decoupling of deflection forces between the two sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a catheter uses a traditional rigid shaft design, then structural strength is maintained, but flexibility and steering capability are insufficient for maneuvering through vasculature and positioning within the heart
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter shaft is divided into multiple hollow cylindrical segments that can pivot relative to each other at hinge locations. This segmentation allows the shaft to flex and steer while maintaining structural integrity through the modular design, resolving the contradiction between strength and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter shaft transitions from a rigid static structure to a dynamic segmented structure with pivoting segments connected by hinges. This allows the shaft to adapt its shape and orientation dynamically during navigation, providing both strength and steering capability.
2Ease of operation
If a catheter shaft is made highly flexible to maneuver through vasculature, then ease of navigation is improved, but the ability to maintain precise angulation and orientation within the heart is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the shaft into discrete pivoting segments connected at specific hinge locations, the catheter can navigate flexibly while maintaining precise angular control at each segment interface, resolving the contradiction between navigation ease and angulation precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter shaft incorporates segments with different radii of curvature, allowing the distal portion to achieve smaller angulation radii than the proximal portion. This parameter variation enables precise positioning and orientation control while maintaining overall flexibility for navigation.
3Ease of operation
If pullwires are used to deflect the distal portion of the catheter, then steering capability is improved, but the force required for deflection may interfere with proximal portion positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented shaft design with pivoting segments isolates the deflection forces applied to the distal portion from the proximal portion. Each segment can deflect independently at its hinge connections, preventing force interference between sections while maintaining steering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic segmented structure allows forces applied to deflect the distal portion to be localized to specific segment interfaces rather than propagating through the entire shaft. This dynamic isolation enables independent positioning of both proximal and distal portions while maintaining steering capability.
4Ease of manufacture
If the catheter shaft uses a solid non-hollow structure, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the ability to house pullwires and internal components is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow cylindrical segments serve multiple functions: they provide structural strength, contain pullwires for steering control, accommodate internal components, and maintain flexibility through pivoting connections. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and component housing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include a catheter shaft (12) having an elongated structure with a distal portion (18) and proximal portion (16). The distal portion (18) can include a distal tip (36), a proximal connector (38), and a plurality of pivoting hollow cylindrical segments (40) disposed between the proximal connector (38) and distal tip (36) along a longitudinal axis extending through the elongated structure. A plurality of connections (42, 44) can be disposed along diametrically opposed sides of the distal portion (18) and configured to connect the distal tip (36), the pivoting hollow cylindrical segments (40), and the proximal connector (38). A diametrically opposed pair of tabs (54-1, 54-2) can extend from an inner wall of each of the pivoting hollow cylindrical segments (40) to form first and second pullwire tunnels (81-1, 81-2). First and second pullwires (52-1, 52-2) can extend through the first and second pullwire tunnels (81-1, 81-2).