Segmented Axial Support for Flexible Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive medical procedures using flexible and steerable elongate devices, such as catheters, face challenges with axial loads that can damage the devices and potentially harm patients due to insufficient support structures.
Innovation Solution
An axial support structure comprising a plurality of rigid links coupled by pin joints, where each link has male and female connectors rotated 90 degrees relative to each other, providing axial reinforcement within a pliable tube to maintain flexibility and steerability while withstanding axial loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible elongate device is made more flexible to enable navigation through anatomic passageways, then its ability to navigate improves, but its axial strength decreases making it susceptible to damage under axial loads
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple discrete rigid links connected by pin joints, creating a segmented architecture that provides axial support while allowing flexibility through the articulation points between segments
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines rigid links (providing axial strength) with pin joints (providing flexibility) to create a composite structure that exhibits both strength and flexibility properties, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements
2Strength
If axial support structures are added to reinforce the flexible elongate device, then axial strength improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple discrete rigid links connected by pin joints, creating a segmented architecture that provides axial support while allowing flexibility through the articulation points between segments
Solution Approach 2:
The pin joints enable dynamic articulation between rigid links, allowing the structure to adapt its configuration while maintaining axial support, thereby managing complexity through controlled flexibility rather than rigid fixed structures
Data Source
AI summary
An axial support structure for a flexible elongate device includes a plurality of rigid links coupled by pin joints. Each of the plurality of rigid links comprises a shaft, a pair of male joint connectors extending axially from a first end of the shaft, and a pair of female joint connectors extending axially from a second end of the shaft opposite the first end. The female joint connectors are complementary to the male joint connectors and are rotated by 90 degrees relative to the male joint connectors. Each of the plurality of rigid links is rotated by 90 degrees with respect to neighboring links among the plurality of rigid links, thereby aligning each pair of male joint connectors with a neighboring pair of female joint connectors to form the pin joints.