Hemostasis Bypass Valve Assembly for Low-Force Device Passage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical delivery devices face challenges with hemostasis valves that require significant force to pass medical devices, leading to potential contamination and damage due to pre-applied lubricants and increased risk of fluid leakage.

Innovation Solution

A delivery device with a hemostasis bypass assembly featuring a bypass tube actuated by a rotatable or axially translatable knob, allowing the bypass tube to traverse the hemostasis valve, reducing the force required to pass medical devices and minimizing contamination and leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hemostasis valve is used to maintain a fluid-tight seal, then fluid leakage is prevented, but significant force is required to pass medical devices through the valve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid-tight sealVSAvoidforce required to pass medical device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into two pathways: a primary pathway through the hemostasis valve and a secondary bypass pathway. The bypass tube provides an alternative route that does not require passing through the restrictive valve structure, thereby reducing the force needed to deliver medical devices while the valve remains intact to maintain the fluid-tight seal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass tube acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the medical device and the hemostasis valve. By providing an alternative pathway, it allows the medical device to be delivered without directly interacting with the valve structure, thus reducing the force required while maintaining the valve's sealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If pre-applied lubricants are used on the hemostasis valve to reduce friction, then ease of device passage is improved, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of device passageVSAvoidcontamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lubrication function is extracted from the hemostasis valve itself and relocated to the bypass tube pathway. This allows the medical device to be lubricated and passed through the bypass tube without requiring lubricants on the hemostasis valve, thereby eliminating the contamination risk associated with pre-applied lubricants while maintaining ease of device passage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass tube serves as an intermediary pathway that separates the lubrication process from the hemostasis valve. By providing an alternative route that can be lubricated independently, it allows easy device passage without compromising the cleanliness and sterility of the hemostasis valve.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a traditional hemostasis valve design is used, then fluid-tight sealing is maintained, but the structure complexity increases due to the need for high-force passage mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid-tight sealVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery system is segmented into two distinct pathways: the original valve pathway and the new bypass pathway. This segmentation allows the bypass tube to handle the high-force passage requirement separately, enabling the hemostasis valve to maintain its simple fluid-tight sealing structure without the added complexity of high-force passage mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bypass tube acts as an intermediary structure that absorbs the mechanical stress and force requirements of device passage. This allows the hemostasis valve to maintain its simple, reliable sealing design without requiring complex reinforcement or additional mechanisms to handle high passage forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enables seamless passage of medical devices with reduced force, minimizing contamination and leakage, while maintaining a fluid-tight seal, thus enhancing the efficiency and reliability of medical device delivery.

Implementation Method 1

A wiper seal may be coupled to the hemostasis bypass assembly proximal to the hemostasis valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4233980B1Integrated hemostasis bypass valve
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 ST JUDE MEDICAL CARDILOGY DIV INC
  • EP4233980B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4233980B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4233980B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

A delivery device (10) may include a handle (100), a catheter sheath (600), and a hemostasis valve (240) positioned within the handle. The delivery device may also include a hemostasis bypass assembly coupled to the handle. The hemostasis bypass assembly may include a bypass tube (380) coupled to an actuator (300). The actuator may be configured to be transitioned between a first condition in which a distal end of the bypass tube is positioned proximal to the hemostasis valve and the hemostasis valve is closed, and a second condition in which the distal end of the bypass tube traverses the hemostasis valve and the hemostasis valve is opened.