Expandable Occlusion Tip Catheter for Flow Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices, such as catheters, fail to effectively restrict retrograde flow of fluid media within the vasculature, leading to difficulties in procedures like injecting contrast media and embolent, which can result in undesired tissue damage and inaccurate treatment.
Innovation Solution
A medical device featuring an elongated tubular member with an expandable occlusion tip comprising a plurality of lobes that radially expand to restrict flow, where the lobes can include eyelets for a guidewire to maintain the tip in an unexpanded state during delivery and expand upon retraction of the guidewire, allowing for effective flow restriction within a patient's vessel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional catheter is used, then the device is simple and easy to manufacture, but it fails to effectively restrict retrograde flow of fluid media
Solution Approach 1:
The occlusion tip is divided into multiple lobes (first lobe, second lobe, third lobe, etc.) that can independently expand and contract. Each lobe contains eyelets for guidewire engagement, allowing differential control of flow restriction in different vascular sectors. This segmentation enables effective retrograde flow restriction while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The occlusion tip transitions from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded occlusion configuration through guidewire retraction. The lobes dynamically change shape and position - extending distally during delivery, then radially expanding upon guidewire removal to restrict flow. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction by providing effective flow restriction only when needed, while maintaining simplicity during delivery.
2Reliability
If the occlusion tip is expanded to restrict flow, then retrograde flow is effectively restricted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lobes are nested within the occlusion tip structure during delivery, with each lobe containing eyelets that receive the guidewire. The lobes are arranged concentrically around the central lumen, creating a compact nested configuration that expands to a larger occlusion configuration upon guidewire retraction. This nesting provides effective flow restriction while minimizing the delivery profile.
Solution Approach 2:
Different lobes can be engineered with different properties - some lobes may have different eyelet configurations, lumen sizes, or expansion characteristics tailored to specific vascular sectors. This local differentiation allows optimized flow restriction in different regions while managing overall device complexity through standardized modular units.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple lobes with eyelets are included, then flow restriction precision is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The occlusion tip is segmented into multiple lobes, each with dedicated eyelets for guidewire engagement. This segmentation enables precise control of flow restriction in different vascular sectors by independently managing each lobe's expansion and guidewire positioning. The modular segmentation approach actually simplifies manufacturing compared to monolithic designs, as each lobe can be fabricated and assembled using standardized processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The eyelets in each lobe serve multiple functions: they guide the guidewire through the lobe, provide anchoring points for lobe expansion, and enable precise positioning for flow restriction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining high flow restriction precision through the integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device comprising an elongated tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, an outer surface and a lumen and the distal portion of the elongated tubular member comprising an expandable occlusion tip, the expandable occlusion tip having a central lumen and comprising a plurality of lobes, the expandable occlusion tip having an unexpanded state and an expanded state, in the unexpanded state the lobes extend distally from the elongated tubular member, in the expanded state, the lobes radially expand and are adapted to restrict flow in a patient's vessel.