Programmable Medical Wire Assembly for Remote Vessel Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical wire systems lack the ability to be directed easily, reliably, and quickly through body passageways, such as blood vessels, making it challenging to reach target areas efficiently, especially in time-sensitive medical procedures like treating aneurysms.
Innovation Solution
A programmable medical wire system comprising a multilayered wire assembly with a core conductor, actuator conductors, selective conductors, and a biocompatible shield, which can be preprogrammed and reshaped upon command using a power supply and controller, allowing for remote guidance to a target area by selectively energizing conductors to bend or twist.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional medical wire is manually moved back and forth through body passageways, then the wire can reach the target area, but the process is slow and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The wire is pre-programmed with a specific three-dimensional configuration or pathway before insertion into the body. This preliminary programming allows the wire to automatically follow the predetermined path through body passageways to reach the target area, eliminating the need for slow manual trial-and-error navigation and significantly reducing the time required while improving reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the wire is manually navigated through body passageways, then it can reach the target, but the ease of operation is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical manipulation of the wire with an automated electromagnetic control system. The wire contains embedded conductors that can be selectively energized to activate shape memory alloy segments, causing them to automatically bend, twist, or extend according to pre-programmed instructions. This substitution of manual mechanical navigation with automated electromagnetic control significantly improves both ease of operation and reliability.
3Productivity
If the wire needs to be quickly directed to a target area, then treatment success increases, but the complexity of the wire system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wire is divided into multiple discrete segments along its length, with each segment containing shape memory alloy elements that can be independently controlled. Each segment has embedded conductors that can be selectively energized to activate only the necessary portions of the wire for navigation to the target area. This segmentation allows for precise, localized control that enables rapid navigation while managing system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire incorporates shape memory alloy segments that can dynamically change their configuration in response to electrical stimulation. These segments can transition between different shapes and states on demand, allowing the wire to adapt its form factor during navigation. This dynamic capability enables the wire to quickly respond to navigation commands and reach target areas rapidly, while the on-demand activation keeps the effective system complexity manageable.
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
Enables quicker, more successful navigation of the wire through body passageways to target areas, enhancing the chances of successful treatment by allowing precise control and integration with auxiliary equipment like sensors and cameras.
Implementation Method 1
actuator conductors...cause the actuator conductors and/or core conductor to bend or twist in a preprogrammed manner. When the conductors are de-energized, the actuator conductor and/or core conductor can resume its natural shape
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a system and method for a programmable medical wire that can be preprogrammed, and controlled and reshaped upon command. The system can include a power supply, a controller, and a multilayered wire assembly. The wire assembly includes a core conductor, actuator conductors coupled to the core conductor, selective conductors formed adjacent the core conductor and the actuator conductors, and a protective biocompatible shield around the layers. The selective conductors can be energized to activate the actuator conductors and cause the actuator conductors to bend or twist in a preprogrammed manner. By selectively controlling the direction of movement of the actuator conductors, the wire assembly can be remotely guided through body passageways to the target. Auxiliary equipment such as sensors, micro cameras, detectors, cutters, and other equipment can also be coupled to the wire assembly, and controlled and communicated with through one or more of the selective conductors.