Electrolytic Detachment Weld Joints for Implant Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detaching implantable medical devices from delivery wires using electrolytic severance face challenges such as limited material selection due to strength requirements and rigidity, leading to inefficient and unreliable detachment processes that can cause injury or rupture of body cavity walls.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system with weld joints made from materials more susceptible to electrolytic corrosion, strategically distributed at the periphery of the core member and implant, allowing for focused electrolytic detachment with reduced cross-sectional area, enabling faster and more reliable separation while maintaining column strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrolytic severance uses a corrodible zone at the end of the delivery wire, then detachment can be achieved, but the connection point becomes extremely rigid and requires relatively long time for corrosive severance
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery wire is segmented into a strong proximal zone and a corrodible distal zone, with the corrodible zone positioned at the very end to minimize the volume of material requiring corrosion while maintaining connection strength during delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery wire exhibits non-uniform properties along its length: the proximal portion has high strength and corrosion resistance for safe delivery, while the distal corrodible zone has reduced corrosion resistance specifically at the severance location, optimizing both delivery safety and detachment speed
2Strength
If the corrodible zone has sufficient diameter to ensure strength, then reliable guidance is achieved, but the connection point becomes extremely rigid and requires long time for electrolytic severance
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure is divided into a strong proximal zone with sufficient diameter for mechanical strength and a corrodible distal zone with minimized volume for rapid severance
Solution Approach 2:
The diameter and material composition of the delivery wire are varied along its length, with the corrodible zone having optimized dimensions that balance mechanical strength requirements with minimized corrosion time
3Reliability
If mechanical separation methods are used, then reliable severance can be achieved, but mechanical energy transmission may cause the implant to be dislodged from the correct position
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical separation mechanism is replaced with an electrochemical corrosion system that detaches the implant through material dissolution rather than mechanical force, eliminating the risk of implant dislodgement while maintaining reliable severance
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 solution facilitates faster and more reliable detachment of implants from delivery wires, reducing the risk of injury and improving procedural efficiency by concentrating corrosion activity and maintaining structural integrity during the detachment process.
Implementation Method 1
separating the implant from the core member by corroding the one or more weld joints. The separating of the implant from the core member can comprise electrolytically corroding the one or more weld joints
Data Source
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AI summary
Detachment of an implant from a delivery assembly can be electrolytic. A distal end of a core member and a proximal end of an implant can be joined together by one or more weld joints disposed axially between the distal end and the proximal end, the one or more weld joints being further disposed at a radially outermost periphery of the distal end and a radially outermost periphery of the proximal end. Delivery of a detachable implant as described herein can include advancing, to a target location within a patient, an implant having a proximal end and being connected to a distal end of a core member by one or more weld joints, as described above, and separating the implant from the core member by corroding the one or more weld joints.