Partitioned Wire Management Sheath to Prevent Guidewire Wrap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter-based systems face challenges in delivering therapeutic devices to bifurcations due to guidewire wrapping and twisting, leading to improper device orientation and deployment complications, particularly in procedures requiring multiple guidewires.
Innovation Solution
A wire management device with a sheath featuring longitudinal partitions that separate guidewires into distinct channels, allowing them to be advanced separately and preventing tangling, while collapsing to facilitate the deployment of the therapeutic device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple guidewires are delivered through a single catheter to achieve precise device alignment at bifurcations, then device positioning accuracy is improved, but guidewires wrap or twist about one another causing delivery failures
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter lumen is segmented into multiple separate channels using longitudinal partitions or divider assemblies. Each guidewire is assigned to a dedicated channel, preventing them from contacting and wrapping around each other. This segmentation maintains both positioning accuracy (by allowing multiple guidewires) and delivery reliability (by preventing wire wrap).
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal partitions act as intermediary structures between multiple guidewires. These partitions physically separate the guidewires within the catheter lumen, allowing each wire to be delivered independently without interfering with the others, thus preventing the wrapping problem while maintaining the ability to achieve precise alignment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If guidewires are allowed to move freely to achieve vessel and side branch location, then alignment capability is improved, but guidewires become tangled and device advancement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter internal structure is segmented into separate channels using longitudinal partitions. Each partition creates an independent pathway that allows guidewires to move freely within their own channel for alignment purposes, while the partitions prevent inter-wire tangling. This enables both adaptability in positioning and ease of device advancement.
3Device complexity
If a single catheter delivers multiple guidewires to simplify access, then procedural complexity is reduced, but guidewire management becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The single catheter is internally segmented into multiple separate channels using longitudinal partitions. This allows multiple guidewires to be delivered through one catheter (reducing procedural complexity) while the partitions manage the guidewires separately (improving guidewire management ease by preventing tangles and wrap).
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal partitions serve multiple functions: they separate guidewires to prevent wrapping, guide wire advancement, and maintain catheter structure. This multi-functionality allows a single catheter design to handle complex multi-wire delivery while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A wire management device including a sheath, a plurality of divider assemblies or partitions, and a valve assembly. The divider assemblies project inwardly from an inner surface of the sheath, and collectively divide a lumen of the sheath into two or more channels that are each sized to slidably receive a guidewire. The divider assemblies are collapsible from a normal, extended state to a collapsed state. The valve assembly serves to selectively close or fluidly seal respective ones of the channels at a proximal end of the sheath. Individual guidewires can be advanced through corresponding ones of the channels via the valve assembly. A delivery device can be loaded to the guidewires and advanced through the sheath causing the divider assemblies are caused to collapse. Ahead of the delivery device, the divider assemblies remain extended, and thus the guidewires remain separated and unable to tangle.