Deflection Catheter Segmented Inner Outer Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter delivery systems face challenges in bending and positioning within the confined space of the left atrium during transseptal procedures for heart valve replacements, particularly due to the difficulty in navigating tight angles and bends, which hinders the effective deployment of prostheses at the mitral or aortic valves.
Innovation Solution
A deflection catheter with a deflection aid assembly comprising an outer and inner component, connected by a band, allows for the manipulation and bending of catheters by sliding the inner component relative to the outer component, expanding or constricting a catheter receiving opening to secure and position the catheter, enabling precise alignment and deployment at the target valve site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a catheter delivery system is used for transseptal procedures, then the prosthesis can be delivered percutaneously to the mitral or aortic valve, but the system cannot be easily bent or positioned within the confined space of the left atrium
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection aid assembly is divided into multiple segments including an outer component with outer branch segments and an inner component with inner branch segments. These segmented components can slide relative to each other to create bending configurations, allowing the catheter to navigate the confined left atrium space while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflection aid assembly incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to change shape from a low-profile delivery configuration to an expanded deflected configuration. The inner and outer branch segments can slide relative to each other to create controlled bends and angles, enabling the catheter to adapt its shape to navigate anatomical constraints while returning to a straight configuration for delivery.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter is kept straight for delivery, then the prosthesis can be advanced through the vasculature, but the catheter cannot be positioned at tight angles within the left atrium
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection aid assembly transitions from a straight, low-profile delivery configuration to a dynamically deflected configuration with controlled bends and angles. The sliding mechanism between inner and outer branch segments allows the assembly to create acute angles and navigate tight spaces within the left atrium while maintaining structural integrity and returning to a straight configuration for prosthesis delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner component with inner branch segments is nested within the outer component with outer branch segments. This nested structure allows the inner segments to slide relative to the outer segments, creating controlled deflections and bends that enable the catheter to navigate tight angles while maintaining a compact delivery profile.
3Measurement precision
If the deflection aid assembly is expanded to bend the catheter, then positioning precision is improved, but the profile size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection aid assembly dynamically changes its profile from a compact low-profile delivery configuration to an expanded deflected configuration only when positioning precision is needed. The sliding mechanism between inner and outer branch segments allows controlled expansion to create precise bends and angles for accurate catheter positioning, then returns to a compact profile for delivery and retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented design with separate inner and outer branch segments allows localized expansion and deflection only at specific points along the assembly. This enables precise positioning control at the target location while maintaining a compact overall profile during delivery, as only the necessary segments expand to create the required bend.
Data Source
AI summary
A deflection catheter is disclosed for aiding in bending of a catheter or other elongate medical device transseptally delivered within a left atrium of a heart. The deflection catheter includes a deflection aid assembly having an outer component, an inner component and a connecting band. The connecting band connects a first inner branch segment and a second inner branch segment of the inner component, and also extends between a first outer branch segment and a second outer branch segment of the outer component whereby a catheter receiving opening is defined between the connecting band and the first and second outer branch segments. Proximal/distal movement of the inner component relative to the outer component increases/decreases an area of the catheter receiving opening in order to secure the catheter or other elongate medical device to the deflection aid assembly for subsequent bending by proximally tugging or pulling on the deflection aid assembly.