Segmented Balloon Catheter Structure for Smaller Deflated Diameter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Balloon catheters with hard members protruding when deflated hinder the reduction of the balloon diameter, making it difficult to navigate through blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
A balloon body with alternating rigid and flexible portions, where hard members are integrated to move inward during deflation, allowing the balloon to collapse into a smaller diameter by arranging rigid portions within a virtual closed region, minimizing the deflated state diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hard members are provided on the balloon to act on lesions, then the functional capability is improved, but the balloon diameter in deflated state increases making it difficult to navigate through blood vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is divided into multiple rigid portions (first through fourth rigid portions) that are distributed around the circumference. Each rigid portion can be independently positioned and configured to hold hard members, allowing the balloon to maintain functional capability while reducing overall diameter in deflated state through strategic segmentation of structural support elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid portions are arranged and joined to form a compact configuration in the deflated state, with end portions of adjacent rigid portions joined together. This nesting-like arrangement allows the hard members and rigid structures to be consolidated into a smaller overall diameter while maintaining their functional integrity when needed.
2Ease of operation
If the balloon diameter is reduced in deflated state for better navigation, then the navigability is improved, but the ability to maintain structural integrity with hard members is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the balloon have different rigidity characteristics. The first through fourth rigid portions provide localized structural support where hard members are positioned, while other portions of the balloon remain flexible. This local differentiation of mechanical properties allows the balloon to maintain structural integrity at critical points while achieving overall diameter reduction for improved navigability.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon structure transitions between deflated and inflated states dynamically. In the deflated state, rigid portions are joined to form a compact structure with reduced diameter. When inflated, the balloon expands and the rigid portions maintain their structural integrity to support hard members for lesion treatment. This dynamic state change allows the balloon to optimize both navigability and structural integrity at different operational phases.
Data Source
AI summary
A balloon body for a catheter includes a balloon and a plurality of hard members. The balloon includes a plurality of rigid portions has at least a joining portion provided with each of the plurality of hard members. The plurality of flexible portions is arranged between the plurality of rigid portions in a circumferential direction. In a cross section, at least a portion of each portion protruding outward with respect to the balloon, of the plurality of hard members provided on the balloon in the deflated state, is arranged in a virtual closed region. The virtual closed region is formed when an end portion in the circumferential direction of each of the plurality of rigid portions is joined to an end portion in the circumferential direction of another rigid portion adjacent in the circumferential direction.