Tubular Catheter Reinforcement With Non-Planar Rings for Trackability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravascular catheters face challenges in maintaining flexibility and trackability, particularly in navigating tortuous vasculature, due to stiffening from solid markerbands, and are prone to kinking during bending, which compromises their ability to access target sites effectively.
Innovation Solution
A catheter design featuring a tubular structure with non-planar ring elements and connecting members that allow for axial, bending, and torsional stiffness, incorporating polymer layers for enhanced flexibility and resistance to kinking, while maintaining a non-planar configuration to enhance trackability and pushability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a solid markerband is used at the distal end of the catheter for imaging, then the catheter can be imaged, but the catheter stiffness increases making it difficult to track and deflect
Solution Approach 1:
The markerband is divided into multiple discrete radiopaque markers distributed along the catheter shaft rather than a single solid band. This segmentation allows imaging capability while reducing localized stiffness and improving flexibility for tracking through tortuous vasculature.
Solution Approach 2:
Radiopaque material is strategically positioned at specific locations (markerband and distal tip) rather than uniformly distributed. This provides necessary imaging capability at critical points while maintaining overall catheter flexibility in the shaft region.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter is designed to be flexible for navigating tortuous vasculature, then trackability improves, but the catheter becomes prone to kinking during bending
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter shaft is divided into multiple segments with varying degrees of flexibility. The proximal shaft has higher flexibility for navigation, while the distal shaft has enhanced rigidity to prevent kinking during manipulation and bending operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the catheter shaft have different mechanical properties. The distal shaft incorporates reinforcement elements and adjusted wall thickness to provide kink resistance, while the proximal shaft maintains higher flexibility for navigation through tortuous vessels.
3Strength
If the catheter shaft is made stiffer for pushability, then axial rigidity improves, but distal tip flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into a proximal shaft region with higher axial rigidity for pushability and a distal shaft region with reduced rigidity for flexibility. This allows the proximal end to transmit force effectively while the distal tip remains flexible for navigating tortuous vasculature.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter shaft has non-uniform wall thickness and material composition. The proximal shaft has thicker walls and stiffer material for axial rigidity, while the distal shaft has thinner walls and more compliant material for flexibility and tip maneuverability.
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter includes: a tubular structure having a first ring element, a second ring element, and a third ring element; wherein the tubular structure comprises a first set of connecting members between the first ring element and the second ring element; wherein the tubular structure comprises a second set of connecting members between the second ring element and the third ring element; wherein the second ring element comprises a first ring portion and a second ring portion, wherein each of the first and second ring portions extends in a non-perpendicular direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tubular structure, and wherein the first and second rings together form a non-planar configuration for the second ring element.