Guide Wire Distal End Weakened Points Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide wire technologies face challenges in achieving flexibility at the distal end piece while maintaining cost-effectiveness, as methods like grinding or cutting to create tapers are time-consuming and expensive.
Innovation Solution
The guide wire features a distal end piece with numerous weakened points created by mechanical interventions such as buckling, bending, or breaking stress, reducing flexural rigidity and increasing flexibility, which can be produced more cost- and time-efficiently than traditional methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the core diameter is reduced by grinding or cutting to increase flexibility, then the flexibility of the distal end piece is improved, but the manufacturing cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The core is segmented into multiple weakened points along its length, particularly in the distal end piece. These weakened points create localized reductions in flexural rigidity without requiring complete diameter reduction of the entire core, thereby improving flexibility where needed while maintaining structural integrity and reducing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The core exhibits non-uniform properties along its length, with weakened points concentrated in the distal end piece where flexibility is most needed. The core maintains full diameter and strength in proximal regions while having localized reductions in rigidity at specific points in the distal region, achieving local flexibility enhancement without global structural compromise
2Ease of operation
If multiple cutting or etching operations are performed to create weakened points, then the flexibility is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Traditional mechanical cutting or etching operations are replaced with a mechanical intervention process that creates weakened points through controlled buckling, bending, or breaking stress. This substitution simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating complex cutting tools and multiple operational steps while achieving the same flexibility enhancement through a more straightforward mechanical process
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
This approach enhances the guide wire's ability to follow curved paths without complete severance of the core, offering improved flexibility and cost savings in production.
Implementation Method 1
an inner shaft, at least in a distal wire end piece, has a large number of weakened points which are produced by mechanical interventions, namely by buckling stress, bending stress and/or breaking stress
Implementation Method 2
an inner shaft, at least in a distal wire end piece, has a large number of weakened points which are produced by mechanical interventions, namely by buckling stress, bending stress and/or breaking stress
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A guide wire for minimally invasive operations with a distal wire end piece (3, 11) connected to a wire main piece (2), wherein the guide wire (1, 10) has, at least in the distal wire end piece (3, 11), an inner shaft (4, 14) and at least one protective layer enclosing the inner shaft (4, 14), the inner shaft (4, 14) comprises a first fibre composite material and, at least in the distal wire end piece (3, 11), the inner shaft (4, 14) has a plurality of weakened points (8, 18), which are created by mechanical interventions, is characterised in that the weakened points (8, 18) are created by buckling load, bending load and/or breaking load. Correspondingly, for a method for producing a guide wire of this kind it is proposed that the weakened points (8, 18) are created by buckling load, bending load and/or breaking load.