Deflectable Medical Probe With Independent Tip Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical probes, such as deflectable catheters, face challenges in navigating and positioning within patient organs due to limited maneuverability and potential tissue damage during insertion, requiring improved flexibility and independent control of distal end sections for precise targeting.
Innovation Solution
A medical probe design featuring a shaft with a flexible section and a spring, along with independent deflection mechanisms using pulling wires, allows for controlled deflection of the distal tip and flexible section relative to the shaft, enabling precise navigation and manipulation within the patient body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a deflectable catheter uses a single flexible section with steering wires, then the catheter can navigate curved pathways, but the maneuverability and independent control of distal end sections are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter shaft is divided into multiple flexible sections (first flexible section and second flexible section) with independent deflection mechanisms. Each section can be deflected independently via its own pulling wires, allowing separate control of different segments of the catheter. This segmentation enables complex navigation maneuvers that cannot be achieved with a single flexible section, as each section can be positioned and oriented independently to navigate through tortuous anatomical pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter incorporates multiple deflection mechanisms that can be dynamically adjusted during the procedure. The first and second deflection mechanisms can be activated independently or in combination, allowing the operator to dynamically change the catheter's configuration to adapt to different anatomical conditions. This dynamic control capability enhances maneuverability by enabling real-time adjustments to the catheter's shape and orientation.
2Strength
If the catheter shaft is made rigid for structural support, then the catheter maintains its shape, but the ability to navigate curved pathways and approach target locations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is segmented into rigid and flexible portions, with the flexible sections positioned at the distal end where navigation is most critical. This segmentation allows the proximal shaft to maintain rigidity for structural support and stable positioning, while the distal flexible sections provide the necessary compliance for navigating curved pathways. The rigid-to-flexible transition creates a catheter that can be pushed with force while still being able to bend at the tip.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the catheter shaft have different mechanical properties - the proximal shaft is rigid for structural support, while the distal sections are flexible for navigation. The flexible sections are specifically located where they are needed for navigating anatomical structures, while the rest of the shaft maintains rigidity. This local differentiation of material properties optimizes both structural support and navigation capability.
3Measurement precision
If the catheter uses multiple deflection mechanisms with independent control, then precise positioning of the distal tip is achieved, but the device complexity and number of control elements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct deflection mechanisms, with the first deflection mechanism controlling the first flexible section and the second deflection mechanism controlling the second flexible section. Each mechanism has its own pulling wires that can be independently actuated. This segmented control architecture allows precise positioning of each section independently, enabling the operator to control the catheter's shape in multiple segments rather than as a single unit, thereby achieving higher positioning precision.
4Ease of operation
If the catheter is made highly flexible for navigation, then the catheter can navigate tortuous pathways, but the structural support and stability during procedures are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into rigid proximal sections and flexible distal sections. The rigid proximal shaft provides structural support for pushing the catheter through vessels and maintaining position during procedures, while the flexible distal sections enable navigation through tortuous pathways. This segmentation allows the catheter to have both high flexibility where needed and adequate structural support where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter exhibits local quality variations along its length, with rigid material properties in the proximal shaft for structural support and flexible material properties in the distal sections for navigation. This localized differentiation of mechanical properties allows the catheter to simultaneously achieve structural integrity and navigation flexibility without compromising either function.
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 enhances maneuverability and functionality of medical catheters by allowing independent control of multiple sections, reducing tissue damage and improving the ability to approach target locations from desired angles, thus facilitating more precise procedures like cardiac electrophysiology and sinuplasty.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, followed by a rigid distal tip having one or more medical devices coupled thereto. The first deflection mechanism is configured to deflect the flexible section relative to the shaft. The second deflection mechanism is configured to deflect the distal tip relative to the first flexible section by using the spring.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A medical probe includes a shaft for navigation in a patient body, and first and second deflection mechanisms. The shaft ends with a flexible section and a spring, followed by a rigid distal tip having one or more medical devices coupled thereto. The first deflection mechanism is configured to deflect the flexible section relative to the shaft. The second deflection mechanism is configured to deflect the distal tip relative to the first flexible section by using the spring.