Modular Handle Extension for Medical Device Adaptability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical device handle assemblies are designed for specific shaft configurations, requiring a new handle design for each new catheter configuration, limiting adaptability and increasing design and manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A modular handle extension system that can be coupled with existing medical device handles, providing additional connectors and deflection mechanisms to accommodate different shaft configurations without the need for a complete handle redesign, featuring a main body portion with handle ports for fluid and electromechanical connectors and an extension portion that replicates the main body ports.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a new catheter shaft is designed with a new configuration of electrical and fluid elements, then the device can accommodate new medical procedure requirements, but an entirely new handle must be designed and constructed, increasing design and manufacturing complexity and costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to new shaft configurationsVSAvoidhandle design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle assembly is divided into separate modular components: a main body portion and a handle extension portion. The main body portion contains the basic handle structure, while the extension portion provides additional connectors and can be configured to accommodate different shaft types. This segmentation allows the handle to be adapted to new shaft configurations by simply changing or reconfiguring the extension portion rather than redesigning the entire handle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The main body portion of the handle is designed as a universal base that can work with multiple shaft configurations. The handle extension portion serves as an adaptable interface that can be modified or reconfigured to match different electrical and fluid element arrangements in various catheter shafts, making the handle system universally applicable across multiple device variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a new catheter shaft is designed with different electrical and fluid elements, then new medical procedures can be supported, but an entirely new handle must be constructed, increasing manufacturing costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different shaft constructionsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the handle into a standardized main body and a configurable extension portion, manufacturing can be streamlined. The main body portion can be mass-produced as a universal component, while only the extension portion needs to be customized for different shaft configurations, significantly reducing overall manufacturing costs compared to producing entirely new handles for each shaft variant.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handle extension portion can be designed as a copy or adaptation of existing handle configurations. By replicating proven connector arrangements and interface designs from existing handles, the extension portion can be manufactured using similar processes and materials, reducing development and manufacturing costs while maintaining compatibility with new shaft constructions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If handle assemblies are designed for specific shaft configurations, then each handle can be optimized for its intended use, but the design cannot be adapted to new catheter configurations without complete redesign

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptimized performance for specific configurationVSAvoidflexibility to accommodate new configurations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The modular segmentation of the handle allows the main body portion to be optimized for reliable, standardized functions while the extension portion can be specifically configured for different shaft types. This maintains optimized performance for each specific configuration while enabling adaptability through the interchangeable extension components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handle design incorporates dynamic adaptability through the extension portion, which can be reconfigured or replaced based on the specific shaft configuration requirements. This allows the handle system to dynamically adapt to different medical procedure needs while maintaining the reliable, optimized performance of the main body portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8998844B2Handle extension for an elongate medical device

Publication Date: 2015.04.07 ST JUDE MEDICAL ATRIAL FIBRILLATION DIVISION INC

AI summary

A medical device handle assembly can include a modular extension that allows for the addition of any number of connector ports to an existing handle. In an embodiment, such an extension can comprise a main body portion configured to be coupled with an elongate medical device shaft comprising at least one of an electrical wire and a fluid lumen. The main body portion may comprise a handle port configured to provide access to one or more of a fluid connector fluidly coupled with the fluid lumen and an electromechanical connector electrically coupled with the electrical wire. The handle assembly can further comprise a handle extension portion coupled with the handle port.