Guide Extension Catheter Segmented Tip for Coronary Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional guide extension catheters often fail to cross tortuous, stenosed, or calcified coronary vessels due to their large crossing profile and inability to track tightly over guidewires, necessitating excessive force for anchor balloon techniques during minimally-invasive cardiac interventions.
Innovation Solution
A guide extension catheter system featuring a proximal shaft with a first outer diameter, a distal sheath having a larger second outer diameter, and a trackable tip member with a guidewire lumen, allowing the catheter to extend beyond the guide catheter's distal end and stabilize positioning within the coronary artery, facilitating easier access and therapeutic interventions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional guide extension catheters are used, then the catheter structure is simple, but the catheter fails to cross tortuous, stenosed, or calcified coronary vessels due to large crossing profile and inability to track tightly over guidewires
Solution Approach 1:
The guide extension catheter is divided into three distinct segments: a proximal shaft with first outer diameter, a distal sheath with second outer diameter greater than the first, and a trackable tip member with third outer diameter. This segmentation allows each portion to have optimized dimensions for its specific function, enabling tight tracking over guidewires while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the catheter are given different local properties: the trackable tip member has a smaller outer diameter than the distal sheath to enable tight tracking over the guidewire, while the distal sheath has a larger outer diameter to provide structural support. This local differentiation of dimensions allows the catheter to simultaneously achieve trackability and structural stability.
2Ease of operation
If conventional guide extension catheters with large crossing profile are used, then the catheter provides structural support, but excessive force is required for anchor balloon techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter design allows dynamic adjustment of the guidewire position relative to the catheter structure. The guidewire can be positioned within the trackable tip member's lumen to provide tracking, or repositioned as needed. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt force requirements to the specific procedural needs while maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The trackable tip member acts as an intermediary element between the guidewire and the distal sheath. It provides a transition zone that allows tight tracking over the guidewire while the larger distal sheath provides structural support, thereby reducing the excessive force required for anchor balloon techniques.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the guide extension catheter extends beyond the guide catheter's distal end, then positioning within the coronary artery is stabilized, but the catheter profile increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide extension catheter is designed to be nested within or alongside the guide catheter, with the trackable tip member extending beyond the guide catheter's distal end. This nesting arrangement allows the extension catheter to stabilize positioning within the coronary artery while minimizing the overall profile by utilizing the space within the guide catheter system.
Data Source
AI summary
Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a guide extension catheter. The guide extension catheter may include a proximal shaft having a first outer diameter. A distal sheath may be attached to the proximal shaft and may have a second outer diameter greater than the first outer diameter. A trackable tip member may be attached to the distal sheath and extending distally therefrom. The trackable tip member may define a guidewire lumen therein.