Expandable Support Device for Flexible Circuit Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices face challenges in navigating tortuous paths and delivering treatment to large target sites within the body due to size limitations, as they often cannot fit through narrow lumens or maintain an effective treatment surface area.
Innovation Solution
An expandable support device with an elastomeric body and flexible supports made from highly elastic or superelastic materials, capable of transitioning between a collapsed and expanded configuration, is coupled with a guide assembly to facilitate delivery through a working channel and provide a larger treatment surface area at the target site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the treatment surface is made large to treat a large target site, then the treatment efficacy is improved, but the device cannot be delivered through narrow lumens
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple segments or struts that can be collapsed together for delivery and separated/expanded at the treatment site, enabling the treatment surface to be large when needed but compact during delivery through narrow lumens
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable support device transitions from a collapsed low-profile configuration during delivery to an expanded configuration at the treatment site, dynamically changing its size to resolve the contradiction between large treatment surface area and small delivery profile
2Stability of the object's composition
If the device is made rigid to provide structural support for treatment, then the structural stability is improved, but the device cannot navigate tortuous paths
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the device have different mechanical properties - the guide assembly and delivery catheter are flexible to navigate tortuous paths, while the expandable support device provides rigid structural stability when expanded at the treatment site
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates flexible components such as the catheter and guide assembly that can bend and conform to tortuous anatomical paths, while the expandable support structure provides rigidity when deployed for treatment
3Length of moving object
If the treatment surface is reduced to fit within the catheter, then the deliverability through narrow lumens is improved, but the treatment efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable support device with its large treatment surface is nested within the delivery catheter in a collapsed state, allowing it to pass through narrow lumens while maintaining the capability to expand to a large treatment surface for efficient treatment of the target site
4Adaptability or versatility
If the device is made flexible to navigate tortuous paths, then the ability to navigate body lumens is improved, but the torque transmission capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide assembly has varying flexibility along its length, with more flexible distal sections for navigating tortuous paths and stiffer proximal sections for effective torque transmission from the operator to the operative member
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates composite construction with materials of different mechanical properties to achieve both flexibility for navigation and sufficient stiffness for torque transmission in different sections of the device
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
Enables the delivery of therapeutic or diagnostic instruments to treatment sites within the body by expanding to a larger configuration once outside the working channel, ensuring effective treatment while maintaining the ability to retract and fit through narrow lumens.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible supports may be made from at least a highly elastic, such as spring steel, or a superelastic material, such as nitinol
Implementation Method 2
The flexible supports may be made from at least a highly elastic, such as spring steel, or a superelastic material, such as nitinol
Implementation Method 3
The guide assembly may be utilized to transmit torque and/or to rotate to the expandable support device and/or the operative member
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for providing treatment to a target site are described. The system may include a guide assembly, an expandable support device coupled with the distal end of the guide assembly, and an operative member disposed on the expandable support device. The expandable support device may be configured to transition between a collapsed and expanded configuration. The expandable support device may be supported by one or more flexible supports aligned in parallel with an axis about which the expandable support device collapses and/or multiple splines arranged in a pattern configured to promote transitioning of the expandable support device between an expanded and collapsed configuration. The guide assembly may be configured to provide torque to the expandable support device. The operative member can include multiple electrodes arranged in parallel to the axis about which the expandable support device collapses.