Medical Device Hub Rotation Blocking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices face difficulties in easily changing direction within a body lumen and effectively removing objects like thrombus or calcified lesions, especially at branching vessel sites due to the large size and torque transmission challenges of current atherectomy systems.
Innovation Solution
A medical device featuring a catheter with a rotatable drive shaft and outer tube, along with a hub portion that allows for rotational adjustment without axial movement, enabling easy repositioning of the cutting portion within the body lumen by utilizing a drive device with engagement and blocking mechanisms to facilitate rotational force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver is rotated together with the catheter to change the cutter position, then the cutter direction can be adjusted, but the large size of the driver makes repositioning difficult and torque transmission becomes difficult when the driver is at a proximal position
Solution Approach 1:
The invention separates the rotational function from the axial coupling function. The hub portion can rotate independently relative to the driver through the release mechanism, allowing cutter direction adjustment without rotating the entire driver assembly. This segmentation enables independent motion control of different components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub portion transitions from a static coupled state to a dynamic rotatable state through the release mechanism. When the release mechanism is actuated, the hub portion can rotate freely relative to the driver; when released, it is constrained axially. This dynamic state change enables flexible repositioning while maintaining secure coupling when needed.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter is rotated by a torque knob to change cutter position before cutting, then the cutter direction can be adjusted, but it is difficult to transmit torque to change the cutter position due to the distal location of the cutter
Solution Approach 1:
The hub portion acts as an intermediary element between the driver and the cutter. It receives rotational force from the driver and transmits it to the cutter while allowing independent rotation relative to the driver through the release mechanism. This intermediary function enables effective torque transmission despite the distal location of the cutter.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub portion serves multiple functions: it couples the driver to the catheter axially, allows rotational adjustment of the cutter, and transmits torque effectively. The release mechanism enables the hub to switch between constrained and free rotation states, providing versatile control over cutter positioning and orientation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hub portion is fixed to the drive device, then stable support is provided, but rotational adjustment of the cutting portion becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the hub portion and driver transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic controllable connection. The release mechanism allows the hub to be constrained axially while enabling relative rotation when needed. This dynamic coupling provides both stable support during operation and rotational adjustment capability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub portion is designed as a separate component that can independently rotate relative to the driver through the release mechanism. This segmentation allows the hub to maintain axial coupling for stability while enabling rotational adjustment of the cutter without separating the hub from the driver completely.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device for removing an object in a body lumen includes a catheter and a drive device. The drive device includes a hub support portion with which a hub portion of the catheter is interlocked. The hub portion has first and second engagement portions interlocked with the hub support portion. The hub support portion includes a rotation blocking portion that is engaged with the first engagement portion to block the hub portion from rotating with respect to the hub support portion, a movement blocking portion that is engaged with the second engagement portion to block movement of the hub portion with respect to the hub support portion in an axial direction, and a releasing portion that releases a state in which a rotation of the hub portion is blocked while maintaining a state in which movement of the hub portion is blocked.