Dual-Stiffness Guidewire for Cannula Backloading

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guidewires are inadequate for inserting cannulas with complex geometries into the heart, such as the IMPELLA RP pump, as they may displace the guidewire or cause damage to the pump during backloading due to insufficient stiffness or flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A guidewire with a flexible proximal section and a stiffer distal section, designed to minimize damage to the pump and maintain guidewire position during cannula insertion, featuring distinct materials and geometries for each section.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a stiff guidewire is used to maintain guidewire position during cannula backloading, then guidewire stability is improved, but damage to the pump components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidewire stabilityVSAvoiddamage to pump components

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire is divided into multiple sections with different stiffness characteristics: a more flexible distal section for insertion through the pump without damage, and a stiffer proximal section for maintaining guidewire stability during cannula backloading. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the guidewire have different material properties and stiffness levels tailored to their specific functions. The distal section has lower stiffness to avoid damaging pump components, while the proximal section has higher stiffness to prevent guidewire displacement during the backloading process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a flexible guidewire is used to minimize damage to pump components during insertion, then damage to pump components is reduced, but guidewire displacement during cannula backloading increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage to pump componentsVSAvoidguidewire stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire is divided into multiple sections with different stiffness characteristics: a more flexible distal section for insertion through the pump without damage, and a stiffer proximal section for maintaining guidewire stability during cannula backloading. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the guidewire have different material properties and stiffness levels tailored to their specific functions. The distal section has lower stiffness to avoid damaging pump components, while the proximal section has higher stiffness to prevent guidewire displacement during the backloading process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a single-stiffness guidewire is used to simplify the device design, then device complexity is reduced, but performance during both insertion and backloading deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguidewire design complexityVSAvoidoverall procedure reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire is divided into multiple sections with different stiffness characteristics: a more flexible distal section for insertion through the pump without damage, and a stiffer proximal section for maintaining guidewire stability during cannula backloading. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the guidewire have different material properties and stiffness levels tailored to their specific functions. The distal section has lower stiffness to avoid damaging pump components, while the proximal section has higher stiffness to prevent guidewire displacement during the backloading process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12403287B2Guidewire for cannula placement

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 ABIOMED INC

AI summary

A guidewire for backloading and inserting a percutaneous pump affixed to a cannula includes a proximal section made of a first material, with a first diameter, a rounded proximal end, and a distal end. The guidewire also includes a distal section made of a second material, with a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter, a distal end, and a proximal end abutting the distal end of the proximal section. The first material of the proximal section is selected to be softer than a material of the percutaneous pump to reduce damage to the pump during backloading. The distal section of the guidewire is configured to be stiffer than the proximal section to insert the percutaneous pump in a desired location without damaging the guidewire.