Echogenic Coil Member for Catheter Ultrasonic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing echogenic devices for ultrasonic imaging, such as catheters, face challenges in providing enhanced imaging while being inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use, as they often require complex reflective surface modifications that are not cost-effective or reliable.
Innovation Solution
An echogenic coil member for a catheter assembly is designed with a plurality of outwardly extending projections containing discontinuities, such as indentations or laser-etched patterns, to enhance ultrasonic imaging. The coil member can be compressed or expanded to form larger discontinuities, and is constructed from materials like aluminum or stainless steel, allowing it to be easily inserted into the catheter lumen or embedded within the catheter wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex reflective surface modifications are applied to enhance ultrasonic imaging, then imaging quality is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a porous coating material on the catheter surface that scatters ultrasonic waves to enhance imaging. The porous structure creates multiple reflection paths that improve image quality without requiring complex geometric modifications to the catheter itself, thus resolving the contradiction between imaging quality and manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials combining the catheter base material with a porous echogenic coating layer. This composite structure provides both the mechanical functionality of the catheter and the ultrasonic imaging enhancement of the porous coating, avoiding the need for complex single-material solutions
2Measurement precision
If complex reflective surface modifications are applied to enhance ultrasonic imaging, then imaging quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The porous coating can be applied using standard coating techniques followed by controlled porogen removal, which is a cost-effective process compared to precision machining or complex surface fabrication. This resolves the contradiction by providing imaging enhancement through a manufacturable process
Solution Approach 2:
The porous coating is applied as a thin layer that can be manufactured at low cost, making the overall catheter more cost-effective even if the coating itself has limited durability. The low material and processing costs compensate for potential replacement needs
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 echogenic coil member effectively enhances ultrasonic imaging of the catheter assembly, providing improved visibility during medical procedures while maintaining a cost-effective and simple manufacturing process, ensuring reliable performance.
Implementation Method 1
the shape includes a dimension such as a radius of curvature which is much less than the wavelength of the sonic beam. The interface may include the outside surface a device or article or material. That surface has a plurality of partially spherical discontinuities for producing a scattered component of the image in response to the incident beam.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to an echogenic coil member for a catheter assembly and methods of manufacturing same. The catheter assembly includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end that defines a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. Thus, the echogenic coil member is configured within the lumen of the catheter. Further, the coil member includes a plurality of outwardly extending projections that contain a plurality of discontinuities. As such, the discontinuities are configured to enhance ultrasonic imaging of the catheter assembly.