Monolithic Through-Tip Catheter for Kink-Resistant Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional balloon catheters experience kinking issues at the transition between stiff and flexible sections due to inadequate bonding, particularly in rapid exchange catheters, which affects their ability to navigate tortuous anatomy without damaging the vessel wall.
Innovation Solution
A catheter design featuring a monolithic distal tip member integrated with the inner tubular member, providing a seamless guidewire lumen connection, and a balloon configuration that ensures a gradual transition between the distal tip and the tubular shaft, enhancing flexibility and reducing kinking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a balloon catheter uses a stiff proximal shaft section to facilitate advancement and a flexible distal shaft section to navigate tortuous anatomy, then the catheter can be advanced through the vasculature more effectively, but kinking occurs at the transition between stiff and flexible sections due to inadequate bonding
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter shaft is divided into multiple sections with different flexibility characteristics (stiff proximal section, flexible distal section). The segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function while the bond strength enhancement ensures reliable connection between segments, preventing kinking at transition zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The bonding parameters at the transition sections are modified to enhance bond strength. This includes using bonding adhesives or fusion bonding techniques that create stronger connections between the stiff and flexible shaft sections, preventing the kinking that would otherwise occur at these transition points.
2Ease of manufacture
If the distal tip member is integrated monolithically with the inner tubular member, then manufacturing is simplified and structural integrity is improved, but the guidewire lumen connection requires precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The distal tip member and inner tubular member are merged into a single monolithic structure through integration. This combining of components simplifies the overall manufacturing process by reducing the number of separate parts that need to be assembled, while the integrated design ensures proper alignment of the guidewire lumen connection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the balloon is configured to ensure a gradual transition between the distal tip and tubular shaft, then flexibility is enhanced and kinking is reduced, but the balloon manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is configured with a gradual transition shape rather than abrupt changes. This curved, gradual transition from the distal tip to the tubular shaft enhances flexibility and prevents kinking by distributing mechanical stresses more evenly, while the gradual shape can be achieved through standard balloon manufacturing techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
Catheter having an elongate tubular shaft including an inflation lumen and a guidewire lumen defined therein, the guidewire lumen extending along at least a distal length of an inner tubular member of the elongate tubular shaft. The catheter includes a distal tip member having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal tip member is monolithic and the proximal end of the distal tip member is secured to a distal end of the inner tubular member. The catheter includes a balloon having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the balloon sealingly coupled to the distal portion of the elongate tubular shaft. The distal portion of the balloon is sealingly coupled to the distal tip member and the balloon defines an inner chamber in communication with the inflation lumen, wherein the proximal end of the distal tip member is disposed within the inner chamber.