Inner Support Catheter Segmented Stiffness Aortic Arch Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Navigating catheters through the aortic arch to access the cerebral vasculature is challenging due to its complex anatomy, hemodynamic forces that can cause buckling or dislodgment, and the risk of embolic events from plaque or thrombus dislodgment.
Innovation Solution
An inner support catheter with a distal region that forms a major curve and a minor curve, along with a low-friction coating and specific friction profiles, enhances pushability, trackability, and torqueability, and maintains stability within the aortic arch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a catheter is made more rigid to improve pushability through the aortic arch, then the ability to transmit axial force improves, but the catheter becomes more prone to buckling and kinking under hemodynamic forces
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple sections with different stiffness characteristics. The inner support catheter has a proximal section with higher stiffness for pushability and a distal section with lower stiffness for flexibility, creating a segmented structure that resolves the contradiction between force transmission and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter employs composite construction with an inner support catheter and an outer catheter, where each layer has different mechanical properties. This composite structure allows the combination of rigid support for pushability with flexible outer layers that prevent buckling and kinking
2Reliability
If the catheter is made more flexible to reduce buckling and kinking, then stability under hemodynamic forces improves, but the ability to transmit axial force and navigate the aortic arch deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter structure is segmented into proximal and distal sections with differentiated stiffness. The proximal section maintains higher stiffness for force transmission while the distal section uses lower stiffness materials to prevent buckling, resolving the contradiction between pushability and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter incorporates dynamic elements such as shape memory alloys or phase change materials that can adjust their stiffness in response to environmental conditions, allowing the catheter to be rigid when needed for navigation and flexible when needed for stability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the catheter manipulations are increased to access complex aortic arch anatomy, then the ability to reach target vessels improves, but the risk of dislodging plaque or thrombus and causing embolic events increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter employs local quality variations with different surface coatings and friction characteristics in different sections. The distal section has reduced friction to enable smooth navigation through the aortic arch with minimal manipulation, reducing the risk of dislodging plaque while maintaining the ability to reach target vessels
4Ease of operation
If the catheter is designed with complex curved shapes to navigate the aortic arch, then trackability and ability to follow vessel path improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates pre-formed curves and arcs in its design, particularly in the distal section, to match the natural geometry of the aortic arch. This curved design improves trackability and ability to follow the vessel path while the curves are manufactured using standard forming techniques rather than complex assembly
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 inner support catheter improves access to vessels in the aortic arch by providing enhanced navigation and stability, reducing the risk of embolic events and maintaining position during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a low-friction coating disposed on the major curve and having a lower friction surface than adjacent areas of the distal region
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an inner support catheter comprising an elongated catheter body with a distal region having a constrained linear shape and an unconstrained shape. The distal region includes a distal first section and a proximal second section that forms a major curve with the proximal second section in the unconstrained shape. In the unconstrained shape, the proximal second section lies substantially in a first reference plane, while the distal first section is positioned at least partially outside of the first reference plane. This configuration may allow for improved maneuverability and flexibility of the inner support catheter during medical procedures.