ICE Catheter Tip Flat Window Design for Acoustic Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasound catheters face limitations in ultrasonic imaging performance due to the shape and material of the tip member, which can attenuate, distort, and reflect acoustic energy, and require complex steering mechanisms that are difficult to maneuver.
Innovation Solution
A catheter tip member with a circular shaft and flat window design, made from materials like polyether block amide, with a smooth transition to minimize acoustic energy attenuation and distortion, and an internal cavity for alignment with pullwires to facilitate consistent angular views during imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single rotating transducer or array of transducer elements is used at the catheter tip, then the catheter can transmit and receive ultrasound signals, but the imaging performance is degraded due to attenuation, distortion, and reflection of acoustic energy by the tip member
Solution Approach 1:
The tip member is designed with a circular shaft and flat window configuration, where the flat window portion minimizes acoustic energy attenuation and distortion. The circular cross-section maintains uniform wall thickness that is optimized for acoustic transmission, while the flat window provides a consistent articulation view. This localized geometric optimization at the tip member ensures minimal energy loss while maintaining imaging reliability.
2Loss of energy
If the tip member has a circular shaft with flat window design, then acoustic energy attenuation and distortion are minimized, but the manufacturing alignment becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tip member incorporates an asymmetric flat window design that breaks the circular symmetry of the shaft. This flat window portion serves as an alignment feature during manufacturing, providing a reference surface for positioning the imaging core and pullwires. The asymmetric geometry simplifies alignment procedures while the circular shaft maintains acoustic optimization, resolving the contradiction between energy minimization and manufacturing ease.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a steering mechanism with multiple wheels and pullwires is used, then the catheter can be steered in multiple planes, but the device complexity and difficulty of maneuvering increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and simplifies the steering mechanism by using a single pullwire that provides steering capability in multiple planes. Instead of multiple independent wheels and pullwires, a single pullwire routed through the tip member and flexible elongate member achieves bidirectional steering when combined with torquability. This reduction in the number of steering components decreases device complexity while maintaining versatility in steering capability.
4Reliability
If the tip member wall thickness is reduced to minimize acoustic attenuation, then imaging performance improves, but the structural strength and rigidity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The tip member employs a circular shaft design with uniformly optimized wall thickness that balances acoustic transmission and structural strength. The circular geometry provides optimal stress distribution and mechanical strength for the given wall thickness, while the flat window portion provides acoustic optimization. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient strength while minimizing acoustic attenuation, resolving the contradiction between imaging quality and structural integrity.
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
Improves ultrasonic imaging performance by reducing energy loss and distortion, and simplifies steering by providing a consistent and predictable articulation view, enhancing the ease of use and effectiveness of the catheter.
Implementation Method 1
The outer geometry, the internal cavity, and the wall thickness of the tip member are shaped to minimize attenuations, distortions, and/or reflections of acoustic energy emitted by the transducer elements and echoes from reflections of the acoustic energy by the body
Implementation Method 2
The pullwires are also referred to as steering lines. The pullwires extend through the bodies of the catheters and are coupled to control wheels at handles of the catheters located at the proximal end of catheters
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging catheter assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the imaging catheter assembly includes a flexible elongate member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion; a tip member coupled to a distal end of the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, wherein the tip member includes a tubular body comprising a closed distal end, an opened proximal end, and a proximal curved top outer wall extending from the proximal opened end and tapering into a distal flat top outer wall towards the closed distal end; and an imaging component mounted within the tip member. In one embodiment, the imaging catheter assembly includes a flexible elongate member; a tip member coupled to a distal end of the flexible elongate member, wherein the tip member includes a cylindrical body and a uniform outer diameter; and an imaging component mounted within the tip member.