Expandable Catheter Support Frame for Axial Alignment and Buckling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current anti-buckling mechanisms for robotic catheters are costly, complex, and often require disposal after each procedure due to their intricate designs and need for placement within the sterile field, failing to provide effective and cost-efficient solutions for preventing buckling during minimally invasive medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a support frame with multiple pairs of support members that reversibly move from a collapsed to an expanded configuration, incorporating open channels for axial alignment of the catheter, allowing top loading and maintaining alignment without the need for complex assembly or frequent disposal, thereby reducing costs and simplifying the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex anti-buckling mechanisms are used to prevent catheter buckling, then buckling prevention is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-buckling mechanism is divided into multiple pairs of support members (first pair, second pair, third pair) that can independently function to prevent buckling at different locations along the catheter, simplifying the overall design while maintaining effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are designed to serve multiple functions: they provide structural support to prevent buckling, maintain alignment of the catheter, and can be configured in different arrangements to accommodate various catheter sizes and procedures
2Reliability
If complex anti-buckling mechanisms are used, then buckling prevention is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism uses multiple simple pairs of support members rather than one complex structure, allowing for simpler manufacturing processes and reduced material costs while achieving the same buckling prevention function
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are designed as disposable components that can be easily manufactured at low cost, allowing them to be discarded after single use without significant economic impact
3Reliability
If anti-buckling mechanisms require placement within sterile field, then buckling prevention is improved, but ease of operation and disposal requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism is segmented into multiple independent support member pairs that can be positioned along the catheter at different locations, allowing for easier manipulation and placement without requiring the entire mechanism to be sterilized
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided for preventing buckling of a flexible elongate member during insertion of the flexible elongate member. The device includes a support frame comprising a first end, a second end, and multiple pairs of support members. The support frame is configured to reversibly move from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration when the first and second ends are moved away from each other. The device also includes multiple open channels coupled to the multiple pairs of support members of the support frame. The multiple open channels are configured to allow the flexible elongate member to be top loaded into the multiple open channels. Also, the multiple open channels are maintained in an axial alignment as the support frame is moved between the expanded and collapsed configurations.