Segmented Delivery Catheter with Independent Pull Wire Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional delivery catheters have limited performance differentiation between bendable and unbendable sections, leading to insufficient bending and undesired bending directions due to the fixed pull wire mechanism, which fails to accurately control bending angles and radii within blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
A segmented bending structure with a first and second pull wire assembly, where the first pull wire ring at the distal end of the first catheter section and the second pull wire ring at the distal end of the second catheter section allow for controlled bending, enabling different bending angles and radii by adjusting the pull wires, thereby facilitating precise navigation through blood vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed pull wire mechanism is used to control bending, then the structure is simple, but the bending angle and bending radius cannot be accurately controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery catheter is divided into multiple catheter sections (first catheter section, second catheter section, etc.), each with its own pull wire assembly. This segmentation allows independent control of bending at different sections, enabling precise control of bending angles and radii by adjusting individual pull wires rather than relying on a single fixed mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter structure incorporates dynamic bending capability through multiple pull wire assemblies that can be adjusted independently. Each pull wire assembly allows real-time modification of bending characteristics, transforming the catheter from a static structure to a dynamically adjustable one capable of adapting to different vascular paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the same pull wire mechanism is used for all catheter sections, then the structure is uniform, but the bendable section and unbendable section have little performance difference
Solution Approach 1:
Different catheter sections are equipped with different pull wire assemblies tailored to their specific functions. The first catheter section has a first pull wire assembly optimized for its bending requirements, while the second catheter section has a second pull wire assembly with different characteristics. This local differentiation ensures each section performs optimally for its intended purpose while maintaining overall system coherence.
3Manufacturing precision
If tension is increased to improve bending of the bendable section, then the bending performance improves, but the unbendable section bends under the wire tension
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the catheter into multiple sections with dedicated pull wire assemblies, the tension force is localized to specific sections rather than being transmitted uniformly throughout the entire catheter. This allows high tension to be applied to the bendable section for effective bending while the unbendable sections remain protected from excessive tension that would cause unwanted deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pull wire assemblies act as intermediaries between the operator's control and the catheter sections. Each assembly is designed to transmit appropriate tension levels to its corresponding catheter section, mediating the force transmission to achieve desired bending without over-tensing adjacent sections that should remain straight.
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery catheter, comprising a first catheter section (10), a second catheter section (20), a first pull wire assembly (30) and a second pull wire assembly (40); wherein the first pull wire assembly (30) comprises a first pull wire (32) and a first pull wire ring (31), when the first pull wire (32) is pulled, the first pull wire ring (31) drives the first catheter section (10) to bend; the second pull wire assembly (40) comprises a second pull wire (42) and a second pull wire ring (41), wherein the second pull wire ring (41) is disposed at a distal end of the second catheter section (20) and connected to a proximal end of the first catheter section (10); when the second pull wire (42) is pulled, the second pull wire ring (41) drives the second catheter section (20) to bend; an angle at which the first catheter section (10) can bend is greater than an angle at which the second catheter section (20) can bend. In this way, the delivery catheter has two bendable sections with different characteristics, such that the problem of little difference in terms of performance, such as bending angles, and having insufficient bending are solved.