Guidewire Proximal Coating Thickness for Slidability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guidewires face challenges in achieving optimal slidability and flexibility due to uniform resin coating thickness, which can impair either flexibility at the distal end or slidability at the proximal side, and have a narrow tolerable film thickness range, leading to poor manufacturing yield.
Innovation Solution
A guidewire design featuring a core shaft with a distal coil body and a proximal coil body, where the proximal coil body has a higher surface roughness and thicker coating, and the distal coil body has a thinner coating, allowing for improved adhesion and slidability at the proximal side and flexibility at the distal end, with optional features like grooves and varying wire cross-sections to enhance these properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire coil body is formed with a thick film thickness, then slidability at the proximal side is improved, but flexibility of the distal end is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different coating thicknesses to different regions of the coil body. The proximal coil body has a first coating thickness optimized for slidability, while the distal coil body has a second coating thickness optimized for flexibility. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing each region to have the coating thickness best suited for its specific functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil body is divided into two distinct segments: a proximal coil body and a distal coil body, each with different coating characteristics. This segmentation allows independent optimization of coating thickness for each segment, enabling the proximal side to have thicker coating for slidability while the distal end has thinner coating for flexibility.
2Strength
If the entire coil body is formed with a thin film thickness, then flexibility of the distal end is improved, but slidability at the proximal side is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
Different coating thicknesses are applied to different regions: thinner coating at the distal end for flexibility, and thicker coating at the proximal side for slidability. This local quality differentiation allows each region to optimize its performance characteristics independently.
3Productivity
If a good film thickness is set throughout the coil body, then manufacturing yield is improved, but the tolerable range of film thickness is very narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies different coating thickness ranges for the proximal and distal coil bodies. This allows the manufacturing process to have broader acceptable tolerance ranges since each region has its own optimized thickness specification, rather than requiring uniform precision across the entire coil body.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the coating thickness parameter along the length of the coil body, creating a gradient or stepped structure where thickness varies from proximal to distal regions. This parameter variation allows optimization of both manufacturing yield and performance characteristics.
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 design enhances guidewire manufacturing yield by optimizing slidability and flexibility, allowing for a thicker coating at the proximal side and a thinner coating at the distal side, improving adhesion and flexibility respectively, while maintaining a balanced film thickness range.
Implementation Method 1
forming a thick coating film with high adhesion to the proximal coil body at a proximal side of the coil body
Implementation Method 2
forming a thin coating film to the distal coil body at a distal side of the coil body
Data Source
AI summary
A guidewire comprises a core shaft, a coil body covering a distal end portion of the core shaft, and a coating agent covering an outer periphery of the coil body, wherein the coil body includes a distal coil body disposed on a distal side of the coil body, and a proximal coil body disposed on a proximal side of the distal coil body, a surface roughness of the proximal coil body is higher than a surface roughness of the distal coil body.