Guidewire Grip Geometry for Better Tactile Manipulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices, such as guidewires, lack an improved feel, grip, and tactile response, making them difficult for clinicians to manipulate during less invasive cardiovascular interventions.
Innovation Solution
The design of guidewires with a proximal end region featuring a circular segment cutout, helical or axial extension, or other geometric shapes, along with a polymer or spring tip member, enhances the feel, grip, and tactile response by incorporating materials like nickel-titanium alloy or stainless steel, and optionally coated with a tacky or textured consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional smooth guidewire design is used, then the device is simple to manufacture, but the clinician's ability to manipulate and apply force is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The proximal end region is segmented into multiple geometric features including circular segment cutouts, axial extensions, and helical patterns that extend along the shaft. These segmented geometric elements provide distinct tactile feedback zones that enhance clinician manipulation capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different geometric patterns are applied locally to specific regions of the proximal end shaft. The circular segment cutouts are positioned at specific locations along the shaft length, and the helical or axial extensions are concentrated in the proximal end region. This localized geometric variation provides enhanced tactile feedback precisely where the clinician needs to manipulate the device, without complicating the entire guidewire structure.
2Ease of operation
If geometric modifications are added to the proximal end region, then tactile feedback is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple geometric modifications including circular segment cutouts, axial extensions, and helical patterns are merged into a single proximal end region of the shaft. These features can be formed in one continuous manufacturing process step, such as laser cutting or CNC machining, rather than requiring separate operations for each feature. This merging approach enhances tactile feedback while controlling manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric parameters of the proximal end region such as the depth, length, and positioning of circular segment cutouts, as well as the pitch and diameter of helical patterns, are optimized to provide effective tactile feedback. By carefully selecting these parameters within practical manufacturing ranges, the design achieves improved manipulation capability without excessive manufacturing difficulty.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device, such as a guidewire with tactile feel, is disclosed. An example medical device may include an elongate shaft having a proximal end region and a distal end region. The proximal end region of the elongate shaft may include a grip section for grasping the medical device. The grip section may have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, and may include a flat surface, a circular segment cutout and/or a projection. In some instances, the grip section may be a twisted or helical arrangement having a length extending along at least a portion of the proximal end region.