Reverse-Tapered Catheter Marker for Precise Angiographic Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheters with radiopaque markers positioned away from the distal end make it difficult to align and insert retrograde catheters with antegrade catheters during procedures like lower limb blood vessel treatment, leading to alignment issues under angiography.
Innovation Solution
A catheter design with a tubular marker at the distal end, formed in a reverse tapered shape, ensuring an axial distance of 0.5 mm or less between the marker and the catheter body end, facilitating accurate positioning and alignment under angiography, and preventing marker detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the radiopaque marker is disposed at a position away from the distal end of the catheter body, then the marker is easier to manufacture and embed, but it becomes difficult to accurately align and insert the distal end of the retrograde catheter with the distal end of the antegrade catheter under angiography
Solution Approach 1:
The marker is positioned at a specific location (distal end part of the catheter body) with a specific distance relationship (0.5mm or less from the distal end) to optimize both manufacturing feasibility and angiographic alignment precision. This local positioning strategy resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal balance point between ease of manufacture and measurement precision.
2Reliability
If the marker is formed in a reverse tapered shape expanding in diameter toward the distal direction, then the marker is easily identifiable under angiography and prevented from falling off, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The marker employs an asymmetric reverse tapered shape that expands in diameter toward the distal direction. This asymmetric geometry provides both mechanical retention (preventing fall-off through friction and engagement) and visual identifiability under angiography, while the gradual taper minimizes manufacturing complexity compared to more complex asymmetric shapes.
3Measurement precision
If the axial distance between the marker and the distal end of the catheter body is reduced to 0.5 mm or less, then the distal position of the catheter can be accurately confirmed under angiography, but the risk of marker detachment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The axial distance parameter is optimized to 0.5 mm or less to achieve accurate distal position confirmation under angiography. This parameter change is complemented by the reverse tapered shape design that provides mechanical retention, thereby maintaining marker reliability despite the reduced distance that could increase detachment risk.
4Measurement precision
If the marker is positioned closer to the distal end of the catheter body, then alignment between antegrade and retrograde catheters is improved, but the ease of operation during insertion procedures is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The marker is positioned at the distal end part of the catheter body with a specific distance relationship (0.5mm or less) to optimize angiographic alignment precision. This localized positioning provides clear visual reference for alignment while maintaining ease of operation through the overall catheter design that accommodates this positioning requirement.
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
Enhances the ability to accurately confirm and align the distal ends of antegrade and retrograde catheters, improving insertability and ensuring smooth insertion, thereby facilitating effective treatment of lesions like CTOs in blood vessels.
Implementation Method 1
a tubular marker containing a radiopaque material and disposed at a distal end part of the catheter body... The position of the distal end of the catheter is confirmed by the radiopaque marker... when the catheter is moved forward along the lumen of a living body, the distal position of the catheter can be accurately confirmed under angiography
Data Source
AI summary
An antegrade catheter of a catheter system includes a tubular first marker disposed at a distal end part of a first catheter body. The first marker is formed in a reverse tapered shape expanding in diameter toward the distal direction of the first catheter body. An axial distance between the most distal end of the first marker and the most distal end of the first catheter body in the axial direction of the first catheter body is 0.5 mm or less.