Medical Guide Wire Distal End Anchoring via Porous Coil Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide wires face issues with the distal end fixed portion being difficult to control and fix, as the wires can unwind and the tensile strength is compromised, leading to a risk of the fixed portion falling off from the coil body.

Innovation Solution

A guide wire design featuring a coil body with a distal end fixed portion where the wires are tightly fixed to each other by melting, welding, or adhering, with at least one gap between adjacent strands, enhancing tensile strength and reducing the risk of unwinding and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the distal end fixed portion is made highly flowable to easily fix to the coil body, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the tensile strength decreases causing the fixed portion to fall off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of fixing distal end fixed portionVSAvoidtensile strength of distal end fixed portion
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the porous structure of the coil body distal end, creating gaps between adjacent wires that allow the distal end fixed portion to penetrate and anchor into the coil structure. This porous configuration enables highly flowable solder materials to effectively fix the distal end fixed portion while maintaining sufficient tensile strength through mechanical interlocking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Ease of operation

If the wires of the coil body are not welded to each other, then the flexibility and ease of insertion are improved, but the distal end fixed portion flows towards the proximal end and becomes difficult to control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of guide wireVSAvoidcontrol of distal end fixed portion length
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains the porous structure of the coil body with gaps between wires to preserve flexibility, while the distal end fixed portion penetrates into these gaps to provide anchoring. This allows the guide wire to remain flexible for easy insertion while the fixed portion is securely anchored and controllable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If the wires of the coil body are melted together to improve connectivity, then the reliability of fixing is improved, but the tensile strength of the distal end fixed portion becomes weak

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity between coil body and distal end fixed portionVSAvoidtensile strength of distal end fixed portion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent avoids melting the coil wires together by utilizing the porous structure with gaps between wires. The distal end fixed portion penetrates into these gaps and anchors mechanically, providing both reliable connectivity and maintained tensile strength without the need for thermal processing that would weaken the structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 effectively prevents the distal end fixed portion from flowing towards the proximal end and enhances its tensile strength, reducing the risk of unwinding and detachment, even with highly flowable solder materials, and minimizes the risk of damaging vessel or organ walls during insertion.

Implementation Method 1

the wires are tightly fixed to each other by melting, welding, or adhering without leaving a gap except for at least one gap formed between two adjacent strands of the coil body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

the wires are tightly fixed to each other by melting, welding, or adhering without leaving a gap except for at least one gap formed between two adjacent strands of the coil body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 3

the wires are tightly fixed to each other by melting, welding, or adhering without leaving a gap except for at least one gap formed between two adjacent strands of the coil body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3006075B1guidewire
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 ASAHI INTECC CO LTD
  • EP3006075B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3006075B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3006075B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem to be solved] An object of the present invention is to provide a guide wire in which a distal end fixed portion can be easily fixed to the distal end of a coil body, and the distal end fixed portion does not easily fall off from the distal end of the coil body. [Solution] In a guide wire 1, a risk of unwinding of single-strand wires 30 of a coil body 20 can be reduced since both a fixed portion 60 and a gap portion 70 are provided at the distal end of the coil body 20. Further, a risk that a distal end fixed portion 40 flows towards the proximal end side along the surfaces of the single-strand wires 30 can be reduced even in a case where highly flowable (highly wettable) solder materials and metal solders are used at the distal end fixed portion 40. Further, the tensile strength of the distal end fixed portion 40 can be enhanced since the distal end fixed portion 40 enters into the gap portion 70, and a risk that the distal end fixed portion 40 falls off from the distal end of the coil body 20 can be reduced even in a case where an external force is applied to the distal end of the coil body 20.