Eversion Sleeve Catheter Advancing Through Curved Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for advancing articles through body cavities or channels face challenges with friction and obstacles, particularly when navigating curved or rough paths, as they often require significant force and can get stuck due to rigid designs and high friction.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a head member and an eversion sleeve made of resilient material, where the sleeve is deployed by turning inside out, allowing it to follow the path of least resistance and reduce friction, with a dispatching member and propelling fluid to exert force on the sleeve, enabling low-friction advancement and self-propulsion along curved paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid catheter design is used to maintain structural integrity, then the device can maintain its shape and functionality, but it experiences high friction and gets stuck when navigating curved or rough paths
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates an eversion sleeve made of resilient material that can be inverted inside out. This flexible sleeve allows the catheter to conform to curved paths and rough surfaces, dramatically reducing friction while the head member maintains structural integrity for functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system where the eversion sleeve can be actively inverted during operation. This dynamic transformation allows the catheter to adapt its surface properties in real-time, switching between low-friction everted state and non-everted state as needed.
2Productivity
If significant force is applied to advance a rigid catheter through obstacles, then the catheter can overcome friction and navigate paths, but it requires high force and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient eversion sleeve acts as a flexible shell that can deform and conform to the path geometry, allowing the catheter to slide along curved surfaces and over obstacles with minimal force rather than requiring high pushing forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful effect of path irregularities and curves into a beneficial sliding motion. By inverting the sleeve, the catheter transforms rough path surfaces into low-friction contact surfaces, turning obstacles into advantages for smooth advancement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an eversion sleeve is used to reduce friction, then the catheter can navigate curved paths with low friction, but the sleeve requires deployment mechanism and control
Solution Approach 1:
The eversion sleeve is nested within the catheter structure, with the inside portion initially contained within the dispatching member. This nested configuration allows the sleeve to be deployed in a controlled manner by inverting it from its compact stored state to its extended low-friction state.
Solution Approach 2:
The eversion sleeve is designed to be inverted inside out during deployment. This inversion mechanism is the core of the system, transforming the sleeve from a compact non-functional state to an extended low-friction state that enables smooth catheter advancement through body cavities.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the eversion sleeve is made of resilient material to follow curved paths, then the catheter can navigate rough and curved paths with ease, but the material selection and manufacturing become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The eversion sleeve is constructed from resilient material that provides the necessary flexibility to conform to curved and irregular paths while maintaining sufficient structural integrity. This flexible shell design enables the catheter to adapt to various path geometries without compromising functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system combines different materials with complementary properties: the resilient eversion sleeve for flexibility and low friction, and the structurally sound head member for functionality. This composite approach allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as an integrated system.
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 system effectively advances the head member with minimal friction, allowing it to navigate rough and curved paths with ease, maintaining functionality even when pressure drops, and enabling reliable self-propulsion with reduced force requirements.
Implementation Method 1
an eversion sleeve configured with an outside portion having a sleeve end configured to be sealingly circumferentially fixed to the perimetric rim of the dispatching member, an everting portion configured for slidingly articulating to the head member and an inside portion configured to extend from the everting portion towards the dispatching member; said inside portion and said outside portion are configured to form a space therebetween for receiving a propelling fluid for exerting force on the everting portion
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A system for advancing an article along a path, comprising: a head member; a dispatching member; and an eversion sleeve configured with an outside portion having a sleeve end configured to be fixed to the dispatching member, an everting portion configured for slidingly articulating to the head member and an inside portion configured to extend from the everting portion towards the dispatching member. The inside portion and the outside portion are configured to form a space therebetween for receiving a propelling fluid for exerting force on the everting portion, thereby gradually advancing a segment of the inside portion towards the head member causing it to slidingly displace with respect to the head member and gradually advancing a respective segment of the everting portion into the outside portion, thereby everting said eversion sleeve inside out and advancing the head member along the path. The head member is configured with an internal portion for retaining the everting portion and facilitating the everting portion to slide with respect to the head member