Intracardiac Defibrillation Catheter with Stepwise Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intracardiac defibrillation catheters do not excel in operability, particularly when the distal end portion with the first electrode group is inserted into a coronary sinus.
Innovation Solution
The intracardiac defibrillation catheter features a tube member with a multi-lumen structure and a shaft with increasing bending rigidity from the distal end to the proximal end, allowing for improved operability by enhancing the flexibility and insertability of the catheter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the hardness of the insulating tube member is increased stepwise from distal end to proximal end, then the structural support and stability are improved, but the flexibility and ease of insertion into coronary sinus deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter shaft is divided into multiple sections with different hardness values. The distal end portion has lower hardness for flexibility, while the proximal end has higher hardness for stability. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the catheter are given different local properties - the distal end is made softer and more flexible to navigate complex cardiac structures, while the proximal end is made harder to maintain stability during manipulation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between flexibility and stability.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter shaft is made more flexible to improve insertability into coronary sinus, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural support and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is segmented into multiple lumens with different structural characteristics. Some lumens contain stiffer components for support, while others remain more flexible. This allows the overall structure to provide both strength and flexibility simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating tube member uses composite material construction combining different materials with complementary properties - softer materials in distal sections for flexibility and harder materials in proximal sections for strength, creating a composite structure that exhibits both flexible and strong characteristics.
Data Source
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AI summary
An object is to provide an intracardiac defibrillation catheter that excels in operability, in particular, operability when a distal end portion of the catheter made by mounting a first DC electrode group is inserted into a coronary sinus. This defibrillation catheter (100) is a catheter comprising an insulating tube member (10) that is made up of a distal end side tube (11) and a proximal end side tube (12), a handle (20) that is connected to a proximal end of the tube member, a first DC electrode group (31G) that is made up of a plurality of ring-shaped electrodes (31) mounted at the distal end side tube of the tube member, and a second DC electrode group (32G) that is made up of a plurality ring-shaped electrodes (32) spaced apart toward a proximal end side from the first DC electrode group and mounted at the distal end side tube, the catheter performing defibrillation in a cardiac cavity by applying voltages having polarities that differ from each other to the first DC electrode group and the second DC electrode group. Bending rigidities (L1 to L5) of a catheter shaft increases stepwise from a distal end side toward the proximal end side.