Nested Catheter Tip Assembly for Selectable Fistula Size
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Selecting an appropriate fistula size during endovascular treatment is challenging, as existing devices require multiple catheters to form fistulas of different sizes, leading to complications and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with a distal tip assembly featuring multiple tips that can be independently moved between extended and retracted positions, allowing for selectable treatment region sizes, including a fistula forming element and support shaft, to form fistulas with controlled diameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple catheters are used to form fistulas of different sizes, then selectable fistula size options are provided, but device complexity and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distal tip assembly is segmented into multiple independently movable tips (first tip, second tip, third tip) that can be extended or retracted individually. Each tip configuration creates a different treatment region size, allowing a single catheter to provide multiple fistula size options without requiring multiple separate catheters.
Solution Approach 2:
The single catheter device is designed with a multi-functional distal tip assembly that can perform multiple functions by adjusting tip positions. The same catheter can form fistulas of different sizes (small, medium, large) by extending different combinations of tips, making one device replace multiple specialized catheters.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple catheters are used to form fistulas of different sizes, then selectable fistula size options are provided, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distal tip assembly is pre-configured with multiple tips of different sizes that can be independently positioned before the procedure. The operator can pre-select and extend the appropriate tips based on the required fistula size, eliminating the need to exchange catheters during the procedure and reducing overall procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal tip assembly features dynamic, independently movable tips that can be adjusted during the procedure. This allows real-time adaptation to different fistula size requirements without removing the catheter, enabling the operator to extend or retract specific tips based on immediate procedural needs.
3Device complexity
If a single catheter with fixed tip configuration is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different fistula sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The distal tip assembly is segmented into multiple independently controllable tips that can be extended or retracted individually. This segmentation allows a single catheter to provide multiple fistula size options (small, medium, large) by combining different tip configurations, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal tip assembly incorporates dynamic elements that allow the tips to move between extended and retracted positions independently. This dynamic capability enables the catheter to adapt to different fistula size requirements by adjusting tip positions, transforming a static simple structure into a versatile dynamic system.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of catheters, methods, and devices for endovascular treatment of a blood vessel uses a catheter. The catheter includes a catheter body including a distal end and a distal tip assembly (100) movably connected to the catheter body at the distal end of the catheter body. The distal tip assembly includes a plurality of tips (102. 104. 106) that nest together and of which each comprises a fistula forming element and a support shaft. At least one of the plurality of tips is independently movable relative to an adjacent one of the plurality of tips between a retracted position and an extended position to provide a treatment region therebetween. WO