Guide Wire With Movable Outer Coil Anchor
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing guide wire systems for medical procedures, such as ureteral stent placement, often require the use of a secondary guide wire to prevent accidental removal, increasing procedure time and cost due to the need for two guide wires.
Innovation Solution
A guide wire design featuring a core member with a longitudinally movable outer coil and an anchor member that can be deployed to securely position the guide wire within a body lumen, utilizing a retaining mechanism to maintain the anchor in place and prevent proximal movement, thereby reducing the risk of guide wire dislodgment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single guide wire is used without additional retention mechanisms, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the reliability of guide wire retention deteriorates leading to accidental removal
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire is segmented into a core member and a separate outer coil assembly. The outer coil can be independently deployed and anchored to the ureteral wall, providing retention without requiring a second guide wire. This segmentation allows the retention function to be added modularly to the basic guide wire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer coil is disposed about the core member in a nested configuration, with the outer coil initially contained within or around the core member and then deployable outward. This nesting allows the retention mechanism to be compact during insertion and then expand to provide anchoring, adding retention capability without significantly increasing the insertion profile.
2Reliability
If a second guide wire is used as backup, then the reliability of guide wire retention is improved, but the device complexity and procedure cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single guide wire system is designed to perform multiple functions: navigation (core member) and retention (outer coil with anchor member). The outer coil assembly can be deployed to anchor the guide wire to the ureteral wall, providing the retention function that would otherwise require a second guide wire. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple guide wires while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the outer coil is made longitudinally movable to enable anchor deployment, then the ease of operation for anchor deployment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer coil is designed with longitudinal movability relative to the core member, transitioning from a retracted position (for insertion and navigation) to an advanced position (for anchor deployment). This dynamic configuration allows the operator to control the deployment timing and location of the anchor member by manipulating the outer coil's longitudinal position, making the deployment process intuitive and controllable.
Data Source
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AI summary
A guide wire may include a core member and an outer coil disposed about the core member. The outer coil may be longitudinally movable relative to the core member between retracted and advanced positions. An anchor member may include an elongate wire having proximal and distal ends attached to the distal ends of the outer coil and the core member, respectively. In response to longitudinal movement of the outer coil relative to the core member, the anchor member may be movable between delivery and deployed configurations. A retaining mechanism may include a tubular member removably positionable about the core member and in abutting contact with a proximal end of the outer coil. The retaining mechanism may be engageable with the core member to inhibit longitudinal movement of the outer coil proximally relative to the core member.