Guidewire with Tensioning Mechanism for State Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional guidewires used in medical interventions face challenges in navigating tortuous vasculature, requiring frequent exchanges between flexible and stiffer states, which increases the risk of puncturing blood vessels and prolongs surgical time, leading to potential complications and increased fluoroscopy exposure.

Innovation Solution

A guidewire design featuring a thin elongated structure with an outer shell that can transition between flexible and rigid states through a tensioning mechanism, allowing for increased gap distance between shell portions to maintain rigidity or flexibility, reducing the need for multiple exchanges during medical procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional guidewires are used to navigate tortuous vasculature, then lateral flexibility is improved, but pushability and ability to achieve rigid state deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelateral flexibilityVSAvoidpushability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire incorporates an outer shell with a gap that can dynamically change its state between flexible and rigid configurations. The gap allows the shell to transition from a compressed flexible state during navigation to an expanded rigid state for stabilization, enabling the guidewire to adapt its mechanical properties in response to procedural needs rather than maintaining a fixed state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If guidewire exchanges are performed frequently to change states, then adaptability is improved, but surgical time and fluoroscopy exposure increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate change capabilityVSAvoidsurgical time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire integrates multiple functions within a single device: it can navigate tortuous vasculature in a flexible state, stabilize in a rigid state, and transition between these states without requiring removal or exchange. The outer shell with the gap serves both as a flexible covering during navigation and as a rigid stabilizing structure when needed, eliminating the need for multiple guidewire exchanges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If guidewire exchanges are performed frequently, then state adaptability is improved, but risk of vessel puncture increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate change capabilityVSAvoidvessel puncture risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Strength

If the outer shell is made continuous to maintain rigidity, then pushability is improved, but lateral flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovepushabilityVSAvoidlateral flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11684751B2Guidewire

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 MALEKMEHR FARSHAD

AI summary

A system a guidewire and a tensioning mechanism. The guidewire includes a thin elongated structure and an outer shell around a first portion of the thin elongated structure. A second portion of the thin elongated structure is exposed outside the thin elongated structure. The tensioning mechanism is configured to engage the second portion of the thin elongated structure to move the guidewire between a flexible state and a rigid state.