Guide Wire Distal Portion Rectangular Cross Section Buckling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide wires for accessing remote sites in the body, such as the vascular system, often buckle or kink due to reduced column strength from flattened distal portions, making them unusable for navigating branching blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
A guide wire with a distal portion of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section, bent into a curved configuration in the central major plane, providing enhanced column strength and facilitating alignment with branching vessels while minimizing buckling, along with the option for manual bending in the central minor plane for further alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the distal portion of the guide wire is flattened to facilitate manual bending and alignment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the column strength is reduced causing buckling and kinking
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire employs a non-uniform cross-section where the distal portion has a flattened configuration for ease of bending and alignment, while the proximal portion maintains a circular cross-section for structural integrity. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its function: the flattened distal end facilitates manual manipulation and vessel alignment, while the circular proximal end preserves column strength to prevent buckling during advancement through the vascular system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the distal portion is flattened to enable offsetting and alignment with branching vessels, then the adaptability is improved, but the reliability is reduced due to buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire is segmented into distinct functional regions with different cross-sectional geometries. The distal portion features a flattened configuration that can be manually bent to create offset angles for aligning with branching vessels, while the proximal portion maintains a circular cross-section that preserves structural stability. This segmentation allows the guide wire to adapt to various vessel branch configurations while maintaining reliability during the advancement process through the vascular system.
3Ease of operation
If the guide wire is made more flexible to navigate tortuous blood vessels, then the ease of operation is improved, but the column strength is reduced leading to buckling and kinking
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire implements a non-uniform cross-sectional design where only the distal portion is flattened to enhance flexibility and ease of navigation through tortuous blood vessels. The proximal portion maintains a circular cross-section with higher column strength. This local quality differentiation allows the distal end to be sufficiently flexible for navigating complex vascular paths while the proximal end retains the structural integrity needed to prevent buckling and kinking during the overall advancement process.
Data Source
AI summary
A guide wire (1) for use with a catheter for accessing a remote site in the venal or other system of the body of a human or animal subject comprises a core wire (2) extending from a proximal end (5) to a distal end (6). The core wire (2) terminates at the distal end (6) in a distal portion (16) which is of rectangular transverse cross-section defining a pair of opposite major surfaces (18,19) and minor surfaces (20,21). The distal portion (16) also defines a central major plane (24) which lies between the major surfaces (18,19) and bisects the minor surfaces (20,21), and a central minor plane (25) which lies between the minor surfaces (20,21) and bisects the major surfaces (18,19). An alignment portion (27) for aligning the distal end (6) with a branched vessel of the vascular system is formed in the distal portion (16) by bending the distal portion (16) in the central major plane 24 to form a curved portion (28) from which the alignment portion (27) extends, the curved portion 28 and the alignment portion 27 lying in the central minor plane 24. By bending the distal portion (16) in its central major plane, the column strength of the guide wire (1) is such as to minimise the danger of buckling of the distal portion in the central minor plane (25).