Segmented Guide Sheath Resolving Flexibility and Kinking Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide sheaths used in medical systems often kink or deform when subjected to external forces, making it difficult to insert and maneuver medical devices accurately within body cavities, as they lack sufficient flexibility and structural support to maintain channel integrity.
Innovation Solution
A guide sheath with a bent section composed of alternately disposed soft and hard sections formed from thermoplastic resin, where the soft sections are kneaded with cross-linking accelerators and the hard sections are cross-linked using ionizing radiation, providing flexibility while preventing kinking and maintaining channel integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a guide sheath is made entirely of soft material to maintain flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but structural support and resistance to kinking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The guide sheath is divided into multiple sections along its longitudinal axis, with alternating soft sections and hard sections. Each section has distinct mechanical properties: soft sections provide flexibility and adaptability, while hard sections provide structural support and kinking resistance. This segmentation allows the guide sheath to simultaneously exhibit both flexibility and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the guide sheath are assigned different material properties to fulfill different functional requirements. The soft sections are positioned where flexibility is needed for navigation, while hard sections are positioned where structural support is needed to prevent kinking and maintain channel integrity. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between overall flexibility and localized strength.
2Strength
If a guide sheath is made entirely of hard material to prevent kinking, then structural support is improved, but flexibility and ease of maneuvering deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The guide sheath is divided into multiple sections along its longitudinal axis, with alternating soft sections and hard sections. Each section has distinct mechanical properties: soft sections provide flexibility and adaptability, while hard sections provide structural support and kinking resistance. This segmentation allows the guide sheath to simultaneously exhibit both flexibility and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the guide sheath are assigned different material properties to fulfill different functional requirements. The soft sections are positioned where flexibility is needed for navigation, while hard sections are positioned where structural support is needed to prevent kinking and maintain channel integrity. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between overall flexibility and localized strength.
3Strength
If cross-linking treatment is applied to thermoplastic resin to improve heat resistance and physical strength, then strength is improved, but flexibility and processability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The guide sheath is divided into multiple sections along its longitudinal axis, with alternating soft sections and hard sections. Each section has distinct mechanical properties: soft sections provide flexibility and adaptability, while hard sections provide structural support and kinking resistance. This segmentation allows the guide sheath to simultaneously exhibit both flexibility and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the guide sheath are assigned different material properties to fulfill different functional requirements. The soft sections are positioned where flexibility is needed for navigation, while hard sections are positioned where structural support is needed to prevent kinking and maintain channel integrity. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between overall flexibility and localized strength.
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
The guide sheath effectively guides medical devices to target areas within the body by maintaining flexibility and preventing kinking, ensuring accurate insertion and maneuverability while withstanding external forces without compromising the conduit channel.
Implementation Method 1
a first hard section provided at a distal end surface of the bent section and formed by cross-linking the thermoplastic resin
Implementation Method 2
formed by cross-linking the thermoplastic resin to which a distal end section of the manipulation wire is fixed
Data Source
AI summary
A guide sheath includes: an elongated member extending along a longitudinal axis; a manipulation wire extending along the longitudinal axis of the elongated member so as to be capable of advancing and retracting; a bent section formed of a thermoplastic resin in a tubular shape and configured to be bent in accordance with advance or retraction of the manipulation wire; and a first hard section provided at a distal end surface of the bent section and formed by cross-linking the thermoplastic resin to which a distal end section of the manipulation wire is fixed.