Guide Catheter Flat Seal Hub for Fluid-Tight Device Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide catheters lack effective fluid-tight access mechanisms for accommodating and advancing medical devices, particularly in procedures like left atrial appendage closure, leading to potential air infiltration and difficulty in controlling multiple devices simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A guide catheter design featuring a hub with a proximal cap and actuation member, including a flat seal that can transition between closed and open positions, allowing fluid coupling and rotational locking with other devices, facilitated by a spring or resilient seal for biasing, enabling seamless advancement and control of multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional guide catheter design is used, then the structure is simple, but fluid-tight access is insufficient and air infiltration occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic sealing mechanism where the actuation member can move between positions to open or close the flat seal, allowing the hub to transition between fluid-tight and access-open states. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by providing reliable fluid-tight access when needed while maintaining structural simplicity through controlled movement rather than complex multi-component assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat seal is implemented as a thin, flexible sealing element that can be compressed and deformed to create effective seals. This thin film approach provides reliable fluid-tight access without requiring thick or complex structural components, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple devices are advanced simultaneously, then procedural efficiency improves, but control and coordination become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hub is designed as a universal interface that can accommodate multiple devices (e.g., LAAC delivery device, dilator, guide wire) simultaneously through a single integrated structure. The actuation member serves multiple functions: sealing, opening access, and coordinating device advancement. This multi-functionality enables simultaneous operation of multiple devices while simplifying control through a unified mechanism rather than separate controls for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sealing function, access control function, and device coordination function into a single integrated hub assembly with a single actuation member. This consolidation allows multiple devices to be advanced and controlled simultaneously through one coordinated action, improving procedural efficiency while maintaining ease of operation through unified control rather than multiple independent controls.
3Ease of operation
If the flat seal is always open, then device advancement is easy, but fluid leakage and air infiltration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The flat seal transitions dynamically between closed and open states based on the procedural needs. During device advancement, the seal opens to facilitate easy insertion. During holding and sealing phases, the seal closes to prevent air infiltration and fluid leakage. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction by providing ease of operation when needed while eliminating harmful air infiltration through controlled sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat seal is designed to automatically return to its closed position after being opened for device advancement, utilizing the elasticity of the seal material and the mechanical configuration of the actuation member. This self-returning mechanism ensures that the seal closes automatically to prevent air infiltration without requiring additional active control, thereby eliminating harmful factors while maintaining ease of operation during the advancement phase.
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
Enhances fluid-tight access and reduces air infiltration, allowing simultaneous advancement and control of multiple devices, particularly in complex procedures like LAAC, improving procedural efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
A flat seal (60) that can transition between closed and open positions
Implementation Method 2
resiliency of the flat seal may provide a biasing force to bias the actuation member to the first position
Data Source
AI summary
A guide catheter for accommodating a left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) device being advanced towards a left atrial appendage (LAA) includes an elongate shaft extending from a proximal region to a distal region and a guide catheter hub that is coupled to the proximal region of the elongate shaft. The guide catheter hub includes a hub body, a proximal cap that is secured to the hub body and that includes a proximal cap extension defining a lumen extending through the proximal cap extension. An actuation member is slidingly disposed within the hub body and includes a central bore defining a lumen extending through the actuation member and a handle extending radially outwardly from the central bore. A flat seal is disposed within the actuation member. Advancing the actuation member towards the proximal cap causes the proximal cap extension to extend through the flat seal.