Nested Balloon Catheter Curved Passageway Conformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional balloon catheters tend to straighten curved passageways when inflated, leading to undesirable alterations in the curvature and increased likelihood of restenosis during stent expansion.
Innovation Solution
A nested balloon catheter design featuring a first balloon inside a second balloon, where the second balloon inflates into bulb segments with waist hoops, allowing the catheter to conform to the passageway curvature, and further inflation of the inner balloon expands the waist hoops, maintaining the curvature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional balloon catheter is inflated in a curved passageway, then the balloon expands to provide stent support, but the passageway curvature is straightened leading to acute curvatures at stent ends
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is divided into multiple independent bulb segments separated by waist hoops rather than being a single continuous inflation zone. This segmentation allows different portions of the balloon to independently conform to the curved passageway geometry while providing distributed stent support, preventing the straightening effect caused by uniform expansion
2Ease of operation
If a single balloon is used for stent expansion, then the procedure is simple, but the balloon cannot simultaneously conform to passageway curvature and maintain acute angle prevention
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple balloons are nested within each other, with the first balloon positioned inside the second balloon. The inner balloon conforms to the passageway curvature by expanding into bulb segments, while the outer balloon provides additional support and helps maintain the curved geometry. This nested configuration allows complex curvature adaptation while maintaining operational simplicity through a single catheter delivery system
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
Enables the balloon catheter and stent to conform to the natural curvature of the passageway, reducing the risk of restenosis and ensuring smooth expansion.
Implementation Method 1
The first balloon bears radially outward on the waist hoop such that the waist hoop has a larger diameter in the second inflated configuration than in the first inflated configuration
Implementation Method 2
The balloon catheter has a deflated configuration, a first inflated configuration and a second inflated configuration
Data Source
Figure 1~7
Figure 8~11
AI summary
A balloon catheter (30) includes a first balloon (50) positioned inside of a second balloon (40), both of which are mounted about a catheter (31) and fluidly connected to respective inflation lumens (32, 33). In a first inflated configuration, the second balloon is inflated and has a shape that includes a plurality of bulb segments (41), with each two consecutive bulb segments being separated by a waist hoop (42). In a second inflated configuration both the inner and outer balloons are inflated, and the inner balloon bears radially outwardly against the waist hoop of the outer balloon such that the waist hoop of the outer balloon has a larger diameter in the second inflated configuration than in the first inflated configuration. The bulb segment separated by waist hoops enable the balloon catheter to conform to curved passageways, such as during the implementation of a stent.