Eccentric Recess Coupling for Vascular Device Splitting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vascular delivery devices face challenges with easy slittability or splittability, making it difficult to remove the delivery sheath while leaving a pacing lead in place during medical procedures.

Innovation Solution

A coupling design with a base body featuring a recess positioned eccentrically and a thin wall segment for easy splitting, along with a robust structure and Luer fitting for secure connections, allows for the easy manipulation and removal of the delivery device without disturbing the implanted medical device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the delivery device is constructed with a robust coupling structure, then reliability is improved, but ease of slitting is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of couplingVSAvoidease of slitting
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling is divided into a first portion and a second portion with different wall thicknesses. The first portion has a thinner wall segment that is easier to slit, while the second portion maintains a thicker, more robust structure. This segmentation allows the device to be easily slit at the designated location while maintaining overall structural reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coupling features a localized thin wall segment in the first portion, while the rest of the structure maintains standard wall thickness. This local quality change enables easy slitting at the thin wall location without compromising the overall robustness and reliability of the coupling structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the recess is positioned centrally, then structural symmetry is improved, but slittability is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural symmetryVSAvoidslittability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The recess is positioned eccentrically relative to the outer diameter of the base body, creating an asymmetric structure. This asymmetry causes the wall thickness to vary around the recess, with a thinner wall segment positioned at a specific location that is easier to slit, while maintaining adequate wall thickness in other areas for structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Strength

If the wall thickness is increased for robustness, then strength is improved, but ease of slitting is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength of couplingVSAvoidease of slitting
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling wall is segmented into regions of different thicknesses. The first portion contains a thin wall segment that is easily slitted, while the second portion maintains a thicker wall for strength and robustness. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between strength and ease of slitting by providing both properties in different locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wall thickness is locally reduced in the first portion to create an easy-to-slit region, while the second portion maintains standard or increased wall thickness for structural strength. This local quality variation allows the coupling to be both strong and easily slit at the designated location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2383010B1Coupling
Publication Date: 2017.05.31 BIOTRONIK SE & CO KG
  • EP2383010B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2383010B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2383010B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a coupling, in particular a hub (2 a-i), with a base body (23 a-i) having a proximal end (24 a-i), embodied as a connecting region (25 a-i) for an applicator (26 a-i), and a distal end (27 a-i), embodied as connecting region (28 a-i) for a delivery device (29 a-i) with a tubular member (30 a-i) for delivering a medical device (31 a-1) into a part of an animal and/or human body, and having a recess (9 a-i) extending between the proximal end (24 a-i) and the distal end (27 a-i). It is provided that the recess (9 a-i) is positioned eccentrically from an outer diameter (20 a-i) of the base body (23 a-i) and a central axis (18 a-i) of the recess (9 a-i) is nonparallel in respect to a central axis (32 a-i) of the outer diameter (20 a-i) of the base body (23 a-i).