Guidewire Tip Shaping Tool for Precise Distal Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional guidewires lack sufficient distal support and steerability, often causing vessel damage and difficulty navigating tortuous vasculature due to abrupt stiffness changes and resistance during advancement.
Innovation Solution
A guidewire design featuring a radiopaque inner coil and a non-radiopaque outer coil, with a solder distal tip formed using a mold or laser to create specific shapes, and varying cross-sectional shapes to enhance torquability and flexibility, along with a shaping tool for precise tip bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional guidewires use tapered sections near the distal end to provide distal support, then distal support is improved, but steerability deteriorates and vessel damage risk increases due to abrupt stiffness changes
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire applies local quality by varying the cross-sectional shape along its length - the distal portion has a non-circular cross-section (oval, flat, or crushed configuration) to provide increased stiffness and support, while the proximal portion maintains a circular cross-section for flexibility and steerability. This localized structural differentiation allows the wire to provide distal support without compromising overall steerability.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidewire is segmented into distinct regions with different cross-sectional characteristics - a distal segment with non-circular cross-section for support and a proximal segment with circular cross-section for maneuverability. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally without the compromises required by uniform design.
2Strength
If guidewires are made stiffer to provide adequate distal support for challenging anatomy, then distal support is improved, but vessel damage risk worsens due to excessive stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The non-circular cross-section is applied only to the distal portion of the guidewire where support is needed, while the proximal portion remains circular and flexible. This localized application of increased stiffness provides the necessary support for challenging anatomy without the excessive stiffness that would cause vessel damage during advancement.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional guidewires use rounded distal tips formed by soldering, brazing or welding, then manufacturing is simplified, but tip positioning precision deteriorates under fluoroscopy
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire incorporates a radiopaque coating or material on the distal tip that changes the radiographic appearance under fluoroscopy. This radiopaque feature enhances the visibility and precision of tip positioning during the procedure, allowing for more accurate placement while maintaining the simplicity of soldered or brazed tip formation.
Data Source
AI summary
A shaping tool is used to form a bend in the distal end of a guidewire. The guidewire distal end is inserted through a channel and into a cavity of the shaping tool. Using hand pressure, a first member is moved axially relative to a second member of the shaping tool, thereby moving the cavity relative to the channel and imparting a bend in the distal end of the guidewire.