Segmented Guidewire Minimizing Annular Space and Whip
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guidewires face challenges in minimizing the annular space between the guidewire and catheters while maintaining sufficient flexibility and torquability, especially when larger diameters are required to reduce radial offset.
Innovation Solution
A guidewire device with a core and an outer tube, where the outer diameter of the tube is larger than the core, is designed to minimize the annular space with catheters while maintaining flexibility and torquability. The device includes a bushing and coils to center the core within the tube, reducing undesirable whip and snap movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the guidewire outer diameter is increased to minimize annular space with catheter, then the radial offset is reduced, but the guidewire stiffness increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire is divided into multiple sections with different diameters: a proximal section with larger diameter for torque transmission and a distal section with smaller diameter for flexibility and reduced annular space. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its diameter for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between minimizing annular space and maintaining acceptable stiffness.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the guidewire are given different local properties through varying diameters. The proximal section has larger diameter providing higher stiffness and torque transmission, while the distal section has smaller diameter providing flexibility and reduced annular space with catheter. This local differentiation resolves the global contradiction by allowing opposite properties in different locations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the core wire diameter is reduced to increase guidewire flexibility, then the flexibility is improved, but the torque transmission capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire is segmented into proximal and distal sections with different core wire diameters. The proximal section has larger core diameter for superior torque transmission, while the distal section has smaller core diameter for enhanced flexibility. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allocating different diameter characteristics to sections where they are most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The core wire diameter is varied locally along the length of the guidewire, with larger diameter in the proximal section for torque transmission and smaller diameter in the distal section for flexibility. This local quality variation allows the guidewire to simultaneously achieve both torque transmission capability and flexibility in different regions.
3Ease of operation
If a larger annular space is allowed between guidewire and catheter, then the catheter navigation is easier, but the radial offset increases causing catheter to catch against vasculature
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire uses segmented diameter design where the distal section has smaller outer diameter specifically to minimize annular space with the catheter. This reduces radial offset and prevents catheter catching against vasculature, while the overall guidewire maintains navigability through flexibility in the distal section.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a guidewire having a core wire and an outer tube within which the distal section of the core is inserted. The outer diameter of the tube is greater than the outer diameter of the proximal section of the core wire. The guidewire also includes a proximal coil and a distal, radiopaque coil each disposed over the distal section of the core. A bushing coil is disposed over the proximal coil and distal coil. The proximal coil, distal coil, and bushing coil aid in filling the annular space between the core and the tube and thereby centering and aligning the core and tube.