Guidewire Brazing Member Shape Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional guidewires face deformation issues at the distal-most end due to heat produced during soldering, affecting their performance in navigating lesions.
Innovation Solution
A guidewire design featuring a first brazing member with a higher melting point than a second brazing member, where the first member retains its desired shape despite the heat from forming the second member, and the second member is strategically placed between the outer and inner coils to minimize material usage and deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a second brazing member is formed adjacent to the first brazing member using soldering, then the guidewire can be assembled, but the heat produced during soldering causes deformation of the first brazing member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting brazing materials with different melting points for the first and second brazing members. The first brazing member uses a material with a higher melting point that remains stable during the soldering process of the second brazing member, thereby preventing thermal deformation while enabling assembly.
2Shape
If the first brazing member is formed with a high melting point material to prevent deformation, then shape stability is improved, but the amount of brazing material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different brazing materials with different melting points at different locations along the guidewire. The first brazing member at the distal end uses a high melting point material for shape stability, while the second brazing member uses a lower melting point material, optimizing both performance and material usage locally.
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 guidewire effectively maintains its desired shape and performance by preventing deformation of the high-melting-point first brazing member, ensuring reliable passability through lesions while reducing the amount of brazing material used.
Implementation Method 1
a melting point of the first brazing member is higher than a melting point of the second brazing member
Implementation Method 2
deformation of the shape (hemispherical or arrowhead-like, for example) of the first brazing member due to a heat produced during formation of the second brazing member is prevented or minimized
Data Source
AI summary
A guidewire has a distal-most end portion that retains its desired shape. The guidewire includes a first brazing member joining a distal end of a core shaft to a distal end of an outer coil, and a second brazing member provided adjacent to and on a proximal side of the first brazing member. The guidewire also includes an outer coil surrounding an outer periphery of the core shaft, and an inner coil provided between the outer coil and the core shaft. The second brazing member is provided between the outer coil and the inner coil, but is not provided between the inner coil and the core shaft. The melting point of the first brazing member is higher than the melting point of the second brazing member.