Polymer-Jacketed Sensing Guide Wire for Better Torque Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Intravascular guide wires with electronic, optical, or electro-optical components face challenges in torqueability and mechanical performance due to limited space and poor transmission of torque through flexible coverings, leading to difficulties in navigating tortuous vessels and potential damage to anatomy.
Innovation Solution
A guide wire design featuring a polymer jacket applied over communication lines and a core member, where the communication lines are wrapped around the core, enhancing torque transmission and mechanical performance by providing a strong adhesion along the entire length and allowing for a larger core diameter, thus improving torqueability and handling characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional flexible coverings are used over the core wire, then the guide wire can navigate tortuous vessels, but the torqueability and torque transmission to the tip deteriorate significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible polymer covering (thin film) over the core wire and communication lines, which allows the guide wire to navigate tortuous vessels while maintaining torque transmission. The polymer covering is sufficiently thin and flexible to conform to vessel curvature without significantly impeding torque transfer to the tip, resolving the contradiction between adaptability to tortuous anatomy and ease of torque control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a metal core wire, wrapped communication lines, and a polymer covering. This composite material approach allows the core wire to provide structural support and torque transmission, while the polymer covering provides flexibility for navigating tortuous vessels, thus resolving the contradiction between torqueability and adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If the core wire diameter is increased to improve torque transmission, then the torqueability improves, but the space available for communication lines and electronic components decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent wraps communication lines around the core wire in a spiral configuration, utilizing the radial and axial dimensions efficiently. This wrapping arrangement allows multiple communication lines to be accommodated in the annular space around the core wire without significantly increasing the overall guide wire diameter, thus maintaining torqueability while providing space for communication lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the communication lines around the core wire, with the polymer covering then enveloping both the core wire and communication lines. This nested arrangement maximizes space utilization, allowing a larger core wire diameter for improved torque transmission while still accommodating communication lines and maintaining the required outer diameter constraints.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication lines are added to provide sensing and imaging functionality, then the diagnostic capability improves, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication lines (for pressure sensing, imaging, and other functionalities) into a single integrated assembly that is wrapped around the core wire as one unit. The polymer covering then encapsulates this entire assembly, creating a unified structure that simplifies assembly by treating multiple communication lines as a single integrated component rather than separate elements requiring individual installation.
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
The polymer jacket design significantly enhances torque response and mechanical performance, reducing the risk of guide wire whipping and improving the ability to navigate complex vascular anatomy, while also simplifying assembly and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
providing a strong adhesion along the entire length
Data Source
AI summary
Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire having a polymer jacket applied over communication lines and a core member, where the communication lines have been wrapped around the core member. For example, in some implementations a sensing guide wire includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including: a core member; a plurality of communication lines wrapped around the core member; a polymer jacket formed around the core member and the plurality of communication lines; and a sensing element positioned distal of the polymer jacket and communicatively coupled to the plurality of communication lines. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.