Flexible Mounting Structure for Intravascular Guide Wire Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular guide wires with electronic, optical, or electro-optical components suffer from reduced performance due to limited space for the core wire, stiffness, and size of the rigid housing, making it difficult to effectively measure pressure and visualize the inner lumen of blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
A guide wire design featuring a flexible element with a distal core and a mounting structure made of multiple material layers, which defines a recess for a pressure sensing component and accommodates a core wire, allowing for a smaller outer diameter of 0.018″ or less while maintaining the necessary structural support and space for electronic components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid housing is used to contain electronic components in a guide wire, then the electronic components are protected and functionally integrated, but the guide wire becomes stiffer and larger in diameter, reducing flexibility and maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional rigid housing with a flexible mounting structure that can be formed from flexible materials or thin-walled structures. This flexible mounting structure maintains the protective function while allowing the guide wire to bend and maneuver effectively within blood vessels. The flexible nature of the mounting structure eliminates the stiffness problem associated with rigid housings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates electronic components directly into the guide wire structure by forming mounting structures that utilize the radial and longitudinal dimensions of the guide wire. By creating recesses and mounting features in multiple dimensions, the design accommodates electronic components without increasing the overall diameter significantly, thus maintaining flexibility while providing component protection.
2Measurement precision
If electronic components are integrated into the guide wire, then sensing and imaging capabilities are enhanced, but the space available for the core wire is reduced, limiting structural integrity and flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where electronic components and their mounting structures are integrated within the annular space between the core wire and the outer flexible element. The mounting structure is positioned such that it utilizes the available radial space without significantly compromising the core wire dimensions. This nesting approach allows electronic components to coexist with the core wire structure in a space-efficient manner.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates localized mounting structures at specific positions along the guide wire where electronic components are needed, rather than uniformly reducing core wire space throughout. The mounting structure includes recesses and features that are strategically positioned to accommodate pressure sensors or imaging elements only in the distal portion, preserving core wire integrity in other sections.
3Ease of operation
If the guide wire diameter is reduced to improve maneuverability, then flexibility and access to small vessels are improved, but space for electronic components and conductors is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the guide wire by extending the mounting structure along a portion of the guide wire length, rather than concentrating all electronic components in a single transverse plane. This longitudinal distribution allows electronic components and conductors to be arranged in a space-efficient manner, accommodating necessary functionality within a reduced diameter while maintaining maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the mounting structure into multiple segments or layers, with different functional components positioned at different locations. The mounting structure may include a first portion with electronic components and a second portion with conductors, allowing efficient spatial arrangement within the constrained diameter. This segmentation enables complex functionality to be packed into a smaller overall size.
Data Source
AI summary
Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one mounting structure within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical component is coupled to the mounting structure. In some instances, the mounting structure is formed of a plurality of material layers. In some embodiments, the material layers have substantially constant thicknesses. Methods of making and/or assembling such intravascular devices/systems are also provided.