Multi-wire Barrel Connector for Intracardiac Echocardiography Catheters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercially available intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheters face challenges in connecting signal cables due to the large number of signal channels, requiring a connector assembly that maintains sterility, ensures low engagement force, reliable alignment, and secure connection while being compact, durable, and cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A multi-wire barrel connector system with a female connector having a cylindrical cavity and wire fingers, and a male connector with a non-uniform transverse cross-section and rotational lock structures to ensure secure engagement and alignment of signal leads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a connector assembly is designed to handle a large number of signal channels, then the reliability of signal transmission is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple alignment features (guide peg, slot, and rotational lock) are merged into a single integrated connector assembly that handles both alignment and securing functions, reducing the number of separate components needed while ensuring reliable signal channel alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The guide peg acts as an intermediary element that facilitates proper alignment between the male and female connector components during engagement, ensuring that corresponding signal leads are correctly positioned without requiring complex alignment mechanisms
2Reliability
If a connector assembly is designed for secure connection, then the reliability of connection is improved, but the engagement force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide peg and slot arrangement performs preliminary alignment of the connector components during the engagement process, ensuring that the connection is properly positioned before final securing, which reduces the force needed for secure connection
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement process is segmented into distinct phases: initial insertion guided by the peg and slot, followed by rotational locking. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, reducing overall engagement force while ensuring secure connection
3Reliability
If a connector assembly is designed to maintain sterility, then the reliability of sterile field maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterile field maintenance function is extracted as a separate design consideration, with the guide peg and slot structure serving dual purposes of alignment and sterile barrier integration, avoiding the need for additional complex sterile maintenance components
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
A connector assembly is disclosed for coupling a signal wire bundle from a controller console to a hand-operated catheter assembly. The connector includes a female connector component having a cylindrical cavity, wire fingers disposed within the cylindrical cavity, a guide peg disposed on a surface of the cylindrical cavity at a point proximate an opening of the cylindrical cavity, and a central pin disposed on a base surface at a closed end of the cylindrical cavity. The connector also includes a male connector component having a substantially cylindrical shape having a non-uniform transverse cross-section radius. The male connector component comprises a set of signal leads disposed along arcs of a cylindrical surface of the male connector, a slot defined within the male connector's surface is arranged to accept the guide peg of the female connector component and constrain the relative positions of the male connector and female connector during engagement.