Radiopaque Patterned Flexible Tip for Guide Wire Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravascular guide wires with electronic, optical, or electro-optical components face challenges such as reduced performance due to limited space, stiffness, and fragility, particularly with solid radiopaque tip coils that lack orientation indication during fluoroscopy, making it difficult to accurately locate and visualize stenosis within blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
A guide wire with a distal tip element featuring a radiopaque marker pattern, comprising alternating coils of radiopaque and non-radiopaque materials, which allows for improved visualization and orientation determination under fluoroscopy, while maintaining flexibility and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a solid radiopaque tip coil is used, then the device can be identified during fluoroscopy, but the orientation of the device cannot be determined and visualization is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The tip coil is divided into multiple discrete radiopaque markers spaced along the flexible tip element, transforming a solid continuous structure into segmented discrete elements. This segmentation allows the markers to provide orientation information through their spatial arrangement while maintaining fluoroscopy visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the tip element have different radiopacity characteristics - some coils are radiopaque while others are non-radiopaque, creating a patterned appearance. This local variation in radiopacity provides orientation cues and improves visualization without compromising the flexibility or structural integrity of the tip.
2Ease of operation
If the coil diameter is reduced to maintain flexibility, then the guide wire is more flexible, but the structural integrity and resistance to kinking is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tip element combines radiopaque and non-radiopaque materials in a composite structure. The radiopaque sections provide structural reinforcement and kinking resistance, while the non-radiopaque sections maintain flexibility and allow the tip to conform to vessel curvature without compromising overall structural integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electronic components are added to the guide wire, then pressure and flow measurement functionality is improved, but the handling performance is reduced due to limited space and increased stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic sensing components are nested within the tip element structure itself, with the tip coil serving as both a structural element and a housing for the sensors. This nesting approach eliminates the need for separate rigid housings and allows the sensing functionality to be integrated without compromising the flexibility or handling characteristics of the guide wire.
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 radiopaque marker pattern enhances visualization and orientation determination during procedures, reducing uncertainty and improving the accuracy of guide wire placement within blood vessels, allowing for better correlation with other imaging data and reducing the risk of kinking or trauma.
Implementation Method 1
a distal tip element having a radiopaque marker pattern... The first and second radiopaque sections can each be defined by a coil formed of a radiopaque material, such platinum, tungsten, gold, or other suitable material
Data Source
AI summary
Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire with distal tip element having a radiopaque marker pattern. For example, in some implementations a sensing guide wire includes a flexible elongate member; a sensing element coupled to the flexible elongate member; a flexible tip element coupled to and extending distally from the sensing element, the flexible tip element having a first radiopaque section, a second radiopaque section, and a non-radiopaque section positioned between the first and second radiopaque sections. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.