Segmented Delivery Catheter Stiffness Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current delivery catheters face challenges in navigating the tortuous anatomy of the brain and effectively reaching areas beyond the carotid syphon without elongation, as they lack the necessary flexibility and stiffness transitions to efficiently advance medical devices through intracranial vasculature.
Innovation Solution
A delivery catheter with an elongated tubular body featuring a proximal section, a distal section, and multiple longitudinally arranged transition sections with varying stiffness, allowing the distal section to be advanced beyond the carotid syphon by applying a distally directed force on the proximal section, enabling navigation through tortuous brain anatomy and facilitating the delivery of movable medical devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a delivery catheter uses a uniform stiff structure to maintain structural integrity, then it can provide sufficient pushing force, but it cannot navigate tortuous brain anatomy effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple discrete sections (proximal section, intermediate sections, and distal section) with different stiffness characteristics. Each section can independently respond to anatomical constraints, allowing the catheter to navigate tortuous paths while maintaining overall structural integrity through the segmented design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the catheter are assigned different local properties: the distal section has lower stiffness for navigating tortuous anatomy, while the proximal section maintains higher stiffness for providing pushing force. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall structural integrity and local navigation capability.
2Ease of operation
If a delivery catheter uses a flexible distal section to navigate tortuous anatomy, then it can access intracranial vessels, but it cannot effectively advance medical devices beyond the carotid syphon
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into a stiff proximal section for force application and a flexible distal section for navigation. The intermediate sections provide gradual transitions, allowing pushing force to be transmitted effectively through the carotid syphon while the distal section navigates tortuous anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter exhibits dynamic behavior where the stiff proximal section transmits pushing forces while the flexible distal section adapts to anatomical constraints. This dynamic response allows effective force transmission for advancing medical devices beyond the carotid syphon while maintaining navigation capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a delivery catheter has multiple stiffness transitions to optimize navigation and force transmission, then it can access deep intracranial vessels, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into a manageable number of discrete sections (proximal, intermediate, and distal) with distinct stiffness characteristics. This segmentation provides the necessary adaptability for accessing deep intracranial vessels while keeping the structure organized and clinically manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Each section of the catheter is assigned specific local stiffness properties optimized for its functional role. The proximal section provides structural support, intermediate sections provide transitions, and the distal section provides navigation flexibility. This local quality differentiation achieves deep vessel access without excessive overall complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A
Figure 4B~5
AI summary
A delivery catheter device for accessing intracranial vasculature are disclosed. The delivery catheter comprises an elongated tubular body having a lumen, a proximal section (10), a distal section (30) and at least three longitudinally arranged transition sections (20) disposed between the proximal section (10) and the distal section (30), wherein the distal section (30) is the most flexible section and the proximal section (10) is the stiffest section. A first transition section (21, 21B) has a stiffness less or equal than a stiffness of the proximal section (10), a second transition section (22) is disposed distal to the first transition section (21, 21B) and has a stiffness greater or equal than the stiffness of the first transition section (21, 21B), and a third transition section (23, 23A) is disposed distal to the second transition section (22) and has a stiffness less than the stiffness of the second transition section (22).