Deflectable Catheter Steering for Tortuous Vessel Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheters face difficulties navigating tortuous vasculature, particularly in neurovasculature, due to size differences, leading to vessel junction entrapment and potential trauma such as dissection and hemorrhage, and existing systems do not adequately address the need for reduced profile and versatility across various catheters.
Innovation Solution
A bi-directional deflectable device is introduced, comprising an inner and outer member with a column member, where the outer catheter acts as a movement restriction, allowing lateral deflection of the distal portion without altering the catheter structure, enabling navigation through tortuous anatomy and reducing the risk of vessel trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a catheter is inserted into tortuous vasculature, then the catheter can reach distant vessels, but the catheter gets caught at vessel junctions and causes trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a deflectable distal section with an inner member and outer member that can dynamically change shape through axial movement. When the inner member moves axially relative to the outer member, the column member deflects laterally, allowing the catheter tip to dynamically adapt to tortuous vessel paths and navigate around junctions without getting caught
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is divided into distinct segments: a rigid proximal section, a deflectable distal section with inner and outer members, and a column member. This segmentation allows different portions to perform different functions - the rigid proximal section provides structural support while the segmented distal section enables flexible navigation through tortuous anatomy
2Adaptability or versatility
If a smaller inner catheter or guidewire is used, then the catheter can navigate tortuous anatomy, but the size difference causes the catheter to get caught at vessel junctions
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable mechanism allows the catheter to dynamically adjust its shape in real-time during navigation. The inner member can be pushed or pulled axially to create lateral deflection of the column member, enabling the catheter tip to actively track along tortuous vessel paths and smoothly navigate around junctions rather than getting trapped
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter changes its geometric parameters dynamically through axial movement of the inner member. By varying the axial position of the inner member relative to the outer member, the degree of lateral deflection of the column member is controlled, allowing the catheter to adapt its shape parameters to match the specific geometry of the vasculature being navigated
3Ease of operation
If a deflectable catheter with column member and reinforcement tube is used, then the catheter can deflect laterally, but the profile is not reduced enough for certain applications
Solution Approach 1:
The column member is nested within the lumen of the outer member, and the deflectable distal section is nested within the proximal section of the catheter. This nested configuration allows the deflection mechanism to be compact and low-profile while maintaining full deflection capability when activated
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter transitions from a low-profile compressed state during insertion to an active deflection state when needed. The column member and inner-outer member structure remain compact during insertion but can be activated to provide lateral deflection when navigation through tortuous anatomy is required
4Ease of operation
If the column member is attached to both inner and outer catheters, then deflection is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The column member serves as a unified structural element that is attached to both the inner member and outer member, merging the deflection function into a single integrated component rather than requiring separate mechanisms. This combining approach achieves deflection capability while minimizing overall structural complexity
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 device facilitates navigation through complex vasculature by deflecting the outer catheter, minimizing the risk of vessel entrapment and trauma, and allows for versatile use with different catheters, including aspiration catheters, enhancing clot crossing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
when one of the inner member or outer member is moved with respect to the other, axial compression of the column member is restricted by an inner wall of the outer catheter causing the distal portion of the inner member to deflect laterally
Data Source
AI summary
A system including an outer member, an elongated column member extending distally from the outer member and an inner member positioned coaxial with the outer member and attached to the column member. The inner member extends distally of the outer member and has a distal portion. The catheter is positioned within an outer catheter, such as an aspiration catheter, which provides a reinforcement member over the column member to restrict movement of the column member such that when one of the inner member or outer member is moved with respect to the other, axial compression of the column member is restricted by the inner wall of the outer catheter causing the distal portion of the inner member to deflect laterally to thereby redirect the outer catheter.