Deformable Sheath Tip Reduces Tissue Trauma

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheath systems used for extending elongated medical instruments into the body can cause trauma to tissues due to their rigidity, making it challenging to minimize damage during sampling or treatment procedures.

Innovation Solution

A deformable sheath tip with reduced column strength compared to the main sheath body, featuring configurations such as varying wall thickness, material differences, cuts, or folds, which allows it to deform upon contact with tissue, thereby reducing trauma.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the sheath is made rigid to maintain structural integrity during insertion, then the sheath can withstand insertion forces, but the sheath causes trauma to tissue upon contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolumn strengthVSAvoidtissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sheath is divided into two distinct segments: a rigid main body for structural integrity and a separate deformable tip for tissue interaction. This segmentation allows each portion to have optimized properties - the main body maintains high column strength while the tip provides trauma reduction through deformability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the sheath are given different mechanical properties. The distal tip portion is made with lower column strength and higher deformability compared to the main body, creating a local quality difference that addresses tissue trauma specifically at the contact point while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the sheath tip is made deformable to reduce tissue trauma, then the sheath tip can absorb insertion forces, but the sheath tip has reduced column strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue traumaVSAvoidcolumn strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The sheath is divided into two distinct segments: a rigid main body for structural integrity and a separate deformable tip for tissue interaction. This segmentation allows each portion to have optimized properties - the main body maintains high column strength while the tip provides trauma reduction through deformability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the sheath are given different mechanical properties. The distal tip portion is made with lower column strength and higher deformability compared to the main body, creating a local quality difference that addresses tissue trauma specifically at the contact point while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 deformable sheath tip effectively minimizes tissue trauma by absorbing force upon contact, facilitating safe extension and operation of elongated instruments without causing significant injury.

Implementation Method 1

The sheath tip has a first column strength along an axis of the sheath tip that is less than a second column strength of the sheath and a first degree of deformability that is greater than a second degree of deformability of the sheath

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the sheath tip deforms more readily than the body of the sheath upon a force being applied to the contact end as may result with contact with the tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce absorption: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS11883003B2Compliant, atraumatic sheath tips

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 GYRUS ACMI INC

AI summary

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing an atraumatic sheath tip. Various disclosed embodiments seek to help reduce or avoid unnecessary tissue damage upon a sheath being extended to convey an elongated instrument for sampling or treatment. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a deformable sheath tip configured to be positioned at a distal end of a sheath. The sheath defines therein a lumen configured to convey an elongated instrument. The sheath tip has a base end disposable at the distal end of the sheath and a contact end. The sheath tip has a first column strength along an axis of the sheath tip that is less than a second column strength of the sheath and a first degree of deformability that is greater than a second degree of deformability of the sheath.