Deflectable Lead Delivery Catheter Slittable Pull Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steerable catheters face difficulties in slitting and removing the pacing lead delivery catheter due to varying cutting forces required to cut through sections with steering components, which can jolt or dislodge the pacing lead from the target tissue.
Innovation Solution
A steerable lead delivery catheter with a slittable pull ring that includes a mesh region with ring holes similar in size and pattern to the tubular braid, providing a consistent reactive load and minimizing the variation in cutting force, allowing for smooth removal without jolting the pacing lead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a steerable catheter with steering components is used to improve maneuverability and access to target tissue, then the ability to navigate to difficult-to-reach sites is improved, but the cutting force required to slit the catheter during removal varies, causing the pacing lead to be jolted or dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The pull ring is designed with a mesh region that has holes sized and patterned similar to the tubular braid, creating a localized structural modification. This local quality change ensures that the reactive load experienced by the cutting blade in the mesh region matches that of the tubular braid, preventing force variations that would jolt the lead while preserving the overall steering functionality of the catheter.
2Device complexity
If conventional pre-curved catheters are used to deliver pacing leads, then the catheter structure is simple and easy to slit, but the fixed curves make it difficult to maneuver precisely within patient anatomy and access target sites
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter transitions from a static pre-curved design to a dynamic steerable design with deflection wires and pull rings. The pull ring can be selectively tensioned to deflect specific sections of the catheter, allowing the operator to create variable curves and navigate to target sites that are inaccessible with fixed-curve catheters.
3Strength
If the pull ring has a solid structure to provide strength during steering, then the catheter maintains its shape and steering capability, but the cutting force required to slit the pull ring varies significantly, increasing the risk of lead dislodgement
Solution Approach 1:
The pull ring incorporates a mesh region with holes that creates a porous structure. This porous design reduces the material density in the pull ring to match that of the tubular braid, ensuring that the reactive load during cutting is consistent throughout the catheter length. The mesh pattern maintains sufficient structural integrity for steering while enabling smooth, uniform cutting.
Data Source
AI summary
A lead delivery catheter having a slittable pull ring is described. The lead delivery catheter includes a deflection wire attached to the slittable pull ring to deflect the catheter. The slittable pull ring has several ring holes arranged in a pattern. The pull ring is located distal to a tubular braid of the lead delivery catheter, and a size and pattern of the ring holes can be similar to a size and pattern of holes in the tubular braid. The structural similarity between the pull ring and the tubular braid facilitates use of a consistent cutting force to slit through the tubular braid and the pull ring of the lead delivery catheter. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.