Laser Ablation of Balloon Dilation Beads for Catheter Bonding

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional balloon catheters with integral dilation beads face manufacturing challenges in bonding the balloon to the catheter and can interfere with the delivery system, making it difficult to smoothly fold the balloon into a deflated configuration, especially when dealing with hardened or calcified stenosed regions that resist expansion.

Innovation Solution

A laser ablation process is used to remove the integral dilation bead from the balloon by mounting it on a mandrel and rotating and translating the laser and mandrel relative to each other, focusing the laser beam to ablate the head and part of the neck portion of the bead, allowing the balloon to be bonded to a catheter without remnants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If integral dilation beads are added to the balloon to dilate hardened stenoses, then the ability to dilate hardened or calcified stenosed regions is improved, but the bonding of the balloon to the catheter becomes more difficult and the balloon cannot smoothly fold into deflated configuration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedilation effectivenessVSAvoidbonding difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by removing the dilation beads from the balloon surface before the bonding process. The beads are eliminated in advance through laser ablation, creating a smooth balloon surface that can be easily bonded to the catheter without interference, while the balloon retains its ability to dilate hardened stenoses through the balloon's inherent expansion capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If integral dilation beads are added to the balloon to dilate hardened stenoses, then the ability to dilate hardened or calcified stenosed regions is improved, but the balloon cannot smoothly fold into deflated configuration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedilation effectivenessVSAvoidfolding smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by removing the dilation beads from the balloon surface before the bonding process. The beads are eliminated in advance through laser ablation, creating a smooth balloon surface that can be easily bonded to the catheter without interference, while the balloon retains its ability to dilate hardened stenoses through the balloon's inherent expansion capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If integral dilation beads are added to the balloon to dilate hardened stenoses, then the ability to dilate hardened or calcified stenosed regions is improved, but the delivery system is interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedilation effectivenessVSAvoiddelivery system interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by removing the dilation beads from the balloon surface before the bonding process. The beads are eliminated in advance through laser ablation, creating a smooth balloon surface that can be easily bonded to the catheter without interference, while the balloon retains its ability to dilate hardened stenoses through the balloon's inherent expansion capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This method effectively removes the dilation beads, improving the bonding process and ensuring smooth deflation of the balloon catheter, enhancing its usability in procedures involving hardened or calcified stenosed regions.

Implementation Method 1

A laser ablation process is used to remove the integral dilation bead from the balloon by mounting it on a mandrel and rotating and translating the laser and mandrel relative to each other, focusing the laser beam to ablate the head and part of the neck portion of the bead

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS8197742B2Laser ablation process for removing a portion of dilation element from a balloon

Publication Date: 2012.06.12 COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A method is provided for a ablating dilation beads on a balloon with a laser. The laser removes integral dilation beads from the neck regions and/or the tapered regions of a blow molded balloon. Part of the neck portions of the dilation beads may remain on the body of the balloon after the dilation beads have been removed.