Nested Balloon Catheter for Localized Stent Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of multiple balloon catheters in medical procedures for widening lesions or expanding stents leads to increased costs and potential insufficient expansion or restenosis due to fixed relative positions of balloons, resulting in poor medical cost performance and incomplete treatment.
Innovation Solution
A balloon catheter design featuring a first shaft with a radially expandable and contractible first balloon, and a second shaft with a radially expandable and contractible second balloon that covers the first balloon, allowing the first balloon to move axially relative to the second, enabling localized expansion of insufficient sites without the need for multiple catheters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple balloon catheters are used to widen lesion areas or expand stents, then the treatment coverage and expansion capability are improved, but the medical cost increases and the procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested balloon structure where an inner balloon is positioned inside an outer balloon on the same catheter shaft. This nested configuration allows two balloons to function together in a single catheter, providing expanded treatment coverage equivalent to multiple catheters while reducing procedural complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple balloon functions into a single catheter device by integrating both inner and outer balloons on one shaft with a unified control system. This merging approach achieves the therapeutic benefits of multiple catheters while simplifying the procedure and reducing the number of devices needed.
2Device complexity
If the relative position of balloons is fixed, then the catheter structure is simplified, but the ability to treat insufficiently widened sites is limited and restenosis may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic relative positioning system where the inner balloon can move independently along the catheter shaft relative to the outer balloon. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the inner balloon to be repositioned to treat insufficiently widened sites, ensuring complete treatment and preventing restenosis while maintaining a relatively simple catheter structure.
3Ease of operation
If one balloon is used to widen the lesion area, then the procedure is simple, but insufficient expansion occurs and restenosis may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The nested balloon configuration allows the inner balloon to be deployed within the outer balloon to provide additional expansion force to insufficiently widened areas. This maintains procedural simplicity while ensuring adequate expansion and reducing the risk of restenosis through the coordinated action of both balloons.
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
This design allows for localized widening or expansion of stenosed sites or stents, reducing the likelihood of restenosis and the need for multiple balloon catheters, thereby improving medical cost performance and ensuring comprehensive treatment in a single procedure.
Implementation Method 1
a first balloon disposed on a distal side of the first shaft, with the first balloon being deformable in a radially expandable manner in response to supply of the pressurizing medium to the first balloon via the first lumen
Implementation Method 2
a second balloon disposed on a distal side of the second shaft and covering an outer periphery of the first balloon, with the second balloon being deformable in a radially expandable manner in response to supply of the pressurizing medium to the second balloon via the second lumen
Data Source
AI summary
A balloon catheter has a first shaft that includes a first lumen, and that extends in an axial direction, a first balloon disposed on a distal side of the first shaft, and capable of being expanded and contracted in a radial direction, a second shaft that includes a second lumen, and that extends in the axial direction, and a second balloon disposed on a distal side of the second shaft so as to cover an outer periphery of the first balloon, and that is capable of being expanded and contracted in the radial direction. The first shaft is configured to be movable in the axial direction relative to the second shaft, and the first balloon is configured to be movable in the axial direction relative to the second balloon in response to movement of the first shaft.