Interlocking Catheter Assembly for Precise Fistula Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for forming a fistula between blood vessels face challenges in aligning and coapting catheters due to flexibility, vessel spacing, and tortuous anatomy, making it difficult to achieve sufficient coaptation and alignment.

Innovation Solution

The use of catheters with geometrically engaging nesting regions and magnetic arrays that interlock to promote alignment and coaptation between catheters, enhancing the alignment and coaptation of working sites before and during fistula formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional catheters are used for fistula formation, then the procedure can be performed, but proper alignment and coaptation of catheters in adjacent blood vessels is difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter alignment precisionVSAvoidcatheter coaptation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter system employs nesting regions with geometric engagement features where a tongue on one catheter fits into a groove on the adjacent catheter. This nested configuration ensures precise alignment and coaptation of the catheters in adjacent blood vessels, directly resolving the alignment precision and coaptation difficulty issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If catheters are made flexible to navigate tortuous anatomy, then vessel access is improved, but alignment and coaptation between catheters becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel access capabilityVSAvoidcatheter alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible catheters incorporate nesting regions with geometric engagement features (tongue and groove) that maintain alignment precision even when the catheters are flexible. The nesting configuration allows the catheters to navigate tortuous anatomy while ensuring proper coaptation at the intervention site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Manufacturing precision

If geometrically engaging nesting regions are added to catheters, then alignment and coaptation are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter alignment precisionVSAvoidcatheter structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device adds geometric engagement features (tongue and groove nesting regions) to the catheter structure. While this improves alignment precision, it does increase device complexity by incorporating additional structural elements that must be precisely manufactured and assembled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20250366907A1Catheter assemblies and systems with interlocking components and methods for forming fistulas

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 TVA MEDICAL INC

AI summary

A catheter includes a catheter body and a modification device. The catheter further includes a nesting region. The modification device of the catheter is configured to project from a working site of the catheter. The nesting region of the catheter is configured to geometrically engage a nesting region of a second catheter.