Radiopaque Catheter Tip Composition for Long-Term Resin Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catheters containing metallic tungsten powder as a radiopaque material face issues with resin deterioration due to hydrolysis of ester and amide bonds during long-term storage, compromising flexibility and X-ray contrast ability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating tungsten carbide into the catheter tip resin layer, with controlled additive content, reduces resin deterioration by minimizing hydrolysis and maintaining flexibility while ensuring X-ray visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If metallic tungsten powder is used as radiopaque material in catheter tip, then X-ray contrast ability is improved, but resin deterioration occurs due to hydrolysis of ester and amide bonds during long-term storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the radiopaque material from metallic tungsten powder to tungsten carbide particles, altering the chemical composition parameter to prevent resin hydrolysis while maintaining X-ray contrast ability. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by selecting a material that provides the same imaging function without the harmful chemical interaction with the resin matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system consisting of tungsten carbide particles dispersed in a resin matrix containing ester and/or amide bonds. This composite structure allows the radiopaque tungsten carbide to provide X-ray contrast while the resin provides flexibility, and the specific composition prevents hydrolysis during storage, resolving the contradiction between imaging ability and material stability.
2Ease of manufacture
If resin is used in catheter tip for moldability and flexibility, then ease of manufacture and flexibility are improved, but resin deterioration occurs when tungsten is incorporated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the radiopaque material parameter from metallic tungsten to tungsten carbide, which eliminates the hydrolysis issue while preserving the resin's moldability and flexibility characteristics. This allows the resin to be used in the catheter tip without deterioration during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent selects tungsten carbide particles as the radiopaque material, which are stable and do not cause resin deterioration. This choice allows the use of resin materials that provide good moldability and flexibility without the constraint of long-term stability issues that would arise with metallic tungsten powder.
3Measurement precision
If catheter tip contains radiopaque material for position identification, then measurement precision is improved, but flexibility is compromised due to resin deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the radiopaque material to tungsten carbide particles, which maintain X-ray visibility for position identification while preventing resin hydrolysis. This preserves the flexibility of the resin-based catheter tip, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure with tungsten carbide particles in a resin matrix, where the radiopaque particles provide position identification capability while the resin continuous phase maintains flexibility. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by combining the beneficial properties of both materials without the harmful interactions.
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 catheter maintains flexibility and X-ray contrast ability over time, reducing resin decomposition and enhancing operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the distal end portion of the catheter (catheter tip) typically contains a radiopaque material that enables detection by X-rays
Implementation Method 2
there is a risk that the resin may deteriorate... minimizing hydrolysis... the catheter main body portion resin layer containing at least one type of second additive selected from the group consisting of antioxidants and light stabilizers
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter that is unlikely to deteriorate even after long-term storage includes: a catheter tip having a catheter tip resin layer containing 1% by mass or more and less than 50% by mass of tungsten carbide; and a catheter main body portion having a catheter main body portion resin layer containing at least one type of second additive selected from the group consisting of antioxidants and light stabilizers, in which the total content of at least one type of first additive selected from the group consisting of antioxidants and light stabilizers contained in the catheter tip resin layer is less than the total content of the second additive in the catheter main body portion resin layer, and the total content of the first additive relative to the catheter tip resin layer is 0% by mass or more and less than 3% by mass.