Guide Extension Catheter Composite Transition for Strength and Flexibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide extension catheters face issues with structural deformations and stress concentrations at the transitional connection segment due to differences in material stiffness and flexibility, leading to poor pushability, passability, and reliability, which can result in failure to reach designated positions or damage to blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
A guide extension catheter design featuring a tubular transitional connection segment with an inner-layer and outer-layer extension segment, incorporating a rib component that is not connected to adjacent metal components, providing enhanced flexibility and mechanical support through hot-melt welding, ensuring superior flexibility and mechanical transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a plastic skirt transition is used in the transitional connection segment, then flexibility is improved, but mechanical transmission and tensile strength deteriorate due to poor stiffness of plastic
Solution Approach 1:
The transitional connection segment uses a composite structure combining plastic material with a metal reinforcement layer. The plastic layer provides flexibility and adaptability, while the embedded metal reinforcement layer enhances tensile strength and mechanical transmission capability, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal reinforcement layer is strategically placed within the plastic layer at the transitional connection segment where mechanical strength is most needed. This localized reinforcement provides enhanced tensile strength and mechanical transmission exactly where required, while the rest of the plastic structure maintains its flexibility.
2Strength
If a metal skirt transition is used in the transitional connection segment, then tensile strength is improved, but flexibility deteriorates due to being too stiff
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using pure metal structure, the invention combines metal reinforcement layer with plastic material. The metal provides tensile strength while the plastic matrix provides flexibility, creating a composite material that simultaneously achieves both strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal reinforcement layer is embedded within the plastic layer in a configuration that allows the overall structure to remain flexible. The plastic shell envelops the metal reinforcement, enabling the composite structure to bend and adapt while maintaining the strength benefits of the metal reinforcement.
3Force
If the transitional connection segment is made with rigid metal structure, then mechanical transmission is improved, but stress concentration increases at the junction between metal ring and guide tube
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of plastic layer with embedded metal reinforcement layer creates a gradual transition in material properties. This gradient structure distributes stress more evenly across the transitional connection segment, reducing stress concentration at any single point while maintaining mechanical transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters gradually from pure plastic to plastic with metal reinforcement, creating a progressive transition in stiffness and strength properties. This gradual parameter change reduces abrupt stress transitions and minimizes stress concentration at the junctions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the transitional connection segment uses plastic material, then flexibility is improved, but mechanical transmission deteriorates due to poor stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic layer with embedded metal reinforcement layer creates a composite material that combines the flexibility of plastic with the mechanical transmission capability of metal. The metal reinforcement provides the necessary stiffness for effective mechanical transmission while the plastic matrix maintains flexibility.
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 design improves passability, pushability, and reliability, allowing the catheter to effectively navigate tortuous blood vessels and maintain lumen integrity, reducing the risk of deformation and breakage, thus enhancing surgical operation success and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the intermediate layer, the rib component, the inner layer and the inner-layer extension segment are wrapped by the outer layer and the outer-layer extension segment and are then hot-melt welded together
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4C
Figure 5A~5C
AI summary
The present application discloses a guide extension catheter, comprising: a guide tube, which comprises a proximal port and a distal port and comprises an inner layer, an intermediate layer, and an outer layer; a guide shaft, which is disposed on the side of proximal port and configured to guide the guide tube into a target position; a transitional connection segment, which is configured to connect the guide tube and the guide shaft, wherein the transitional connection segment is of a tubular structure that axially extends from the proximal port and comprises an inclined opening, and comprises an inner-layer extension segment, an outer-layer extension segment, and a rib component; the rib component is sized and shaped to adapt to the transitional connection segment; the rib component and the intermediate layer are coaxial with but not connected to each other, and are spaced apart by a first spacing of 0.1 mm to 10 mm; the rib component is spaced apart from the guide shaft by a third spacing of 0.1 mm to 2 mm; and the intermediate layer, the rib component, the inner layer and the inner-layer extension segment are wrapped by the outer layer and the outer-layer extension segment and are then hot-melt welded together. The guide extension catheter has both support strength and flexibility, and achieves comprehensive and significant improvements in terms of the passability, pushability, effective cavity channel retention capability, and reliability.