Guidewire Electroactive Tip Nesting and Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guidewire systems with electroactive polymer tips have limited range of motion and reliability due to small diameter geometries and fragile connections, making it difficult to navigate through tortuous lumens and intersecting branches, especially at high angles.
Innovation Solution
A guidewire system with a controllably bendable tip using an electroactive polymer section that allows for angles greater than ninety degrees and infinite rotation, combined with an improved electrical connection paradigm that maintains a conductive path while allowing external power supply, enabling precise positioning within body lumens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the guidewire uses a small diameter geometry to navigate body lumens, then the guidewire can be introduced through incisions and follow lumens, but the connections become fragile leading to frequent open circuit situations
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical conductors are nested within the hollow tubular intermediate portion of the guidewire, with conductors running through the hollow space rather than along the exterior. This protects the fragile connections from damage while maintaining the small overall diameter of the guidewire for navigation through body lumens.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidewire is divided into distinct functional sections: a controllably bendable tip portion with electroactive polymer, a hollow tubular intermediate portion containing conductors, and a proximal electrical connection portion. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently - the tip for maneuverability, the intermediate portion for protected electrical pathways, and the connection portion for reliable external interfacing.
2Ease of operation
If the electroactive polymer section is hardwired to voltage source and ground for actuation, then the polymer can be biased to change orientation, but the rotational actuation of the guidewire is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. The hollow tubular intermediate portion allows the guidewire to rotate freely while maintaining continuous electrical contact between the conductors and the electroactive polymer section. This enables both rotational maneuvering and electroactive actuation without constraint conflicts.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow tubular intermediate portion serves as an intermediary structure that mediates between the electrical components (conductors and electroactive polymer) and the mechanical rotation of the guidewire. It provides a protected pathway for electrical connections while allowing unrestricted rotational movement of the overall guidewire assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the distal end of the guidewire is positioned to follow tortuous lumen geometries, then the guidewire can reach target locations, but the range of motion of the electroactive polymer section is limited preventing entry into intersecting lumens at high angles
Solution Approach 1:
The electroactive polymer section is designed with modified physical parameters including increased thickness and strategic placement within the guidewire structure. These parameter changes expand the polymer's range of motion capability, enabling it to achieve the large angular deflections needed to enter intersecting lumens while maintaining stability when actuated.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidewire is pre-configured with the electroactive polymer section positioned and oriented to maximize its ability to respond to actuation signals. The polymer is pre-stressed and positioned within the hollow tubular structure so that when voltage is applied, it can rapidly achieve the necessary angular deflection to navigate into intersecting lumens from various approaches.
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
Enhances the ability to navigate complex lumen geometries by allowing greater angular positioning and maintaining electrical connectivity, reducing the risk of open circuit situations and improving user control over the guidewire's distal end.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating an electroactive polymer contacted by at least two electrical conductors located at at least two different locations on the electroactive polymer. By selectively biasing at least one of the electrical conductors, the orientation of the electroactive polymer portion of the guidewire is controllably changeable
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter comprises a hollow sheath, a guidewire extendable through the hollow sheath, where the guidewire comprises a controllably bendable tip portion, a hollow tubular intermediate portion connected to the tip portion, an electrical connection portion connected to the hollow tubular portion, at least a first wire extending through the hollow tubular portion and connected at a first end thereof to a first circumferential conductor and at a second end thereof to a surface of the tip end, and a power supply connector, therein the electrical connection portion is received in the power supply connector and a first terminal in the power supply connector contacts the first circumferential conductor.