Flattened Core Wire for Preferential Bending in Guide Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional guide wires with cylindrical core wires lack a preferential bending plane, leading to poor tip durability due to spiral shape formation and increased stress during bending, which affects maneuverability and steerability in intravascular procedures.
Innovation Solution
A core wire with a flattened portion configured to preferentially bend in at least one plane, reducing the cross-sectional area moment of inertia and enhancing tip durability by allowing predictable reshaping and reduced force required for bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical core wire is used, then the guide wire maintains symmetry and uniform strength, but it lacks a preferential bending plane leading to spiral shape formation and poor tip durability
Solution Approach 1:
The core wire is designed with an asymmetric cross-sectional shape (e.g., flattened, oval, or triangular) instead of a symmetric cylindrical shape. This asymmetry creates a preferential bending plane that allows the guide wire tip to bend in a controlled direction, preventing spiral formation and improving tip durability while maintaining re-shapeability through the defined bending plane
2Ease of operation
If the core wire is made more flexible to improve maneuverability, then it can navigate tortuous vessels better, but torque transmission and steerability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire is designed with varying local properties: the core wire may have different cross-sectional shapes at different locations (e.g., flattened portion at the tip for flexibility and preferential bending, while the proximal portion maintains sufficient stiffness for torque transmission). This local differentiation allows the distal end to be maneuverable while the proximal end maintains torque transmission capability
Data Source
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AI summary
A guide wire configured for intravascular insertion includes a core wire having a flattened portion configured to allow the core wire to preferentially bend in at least one plane that passes through a longitudinal axis of the core wire. A distal most end of the flattened portion is spaced from a distal most end of the core wire. The guide wire may further include a sensor element configured to measure a physiological variable in a living body and a coil surrounding a portion of the core wire.