Segmented Medical Guidewire Core Wire Loop Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical guidewires face challenges in efficiently navigating curved body passageways and accessing specific anatomical structures like the papilla of Vater due to limitations in flexibility and the ability to form predictable loops, which affects their usability in endoscopic interventions.
Innovation Solution
A medical guidewire design featuring a core wire with distinct sections of varying diameters and tapers, allowing for the formation of pre-determined inflection points that enable the guidewire to prolapse and form loops under controlled forces, enhancing navigability and accessibility to body lumens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a guidewire uses a uniform diameter design, then manufacturing is simpler, but the ability to navigate curved body passageways and form predictable loops is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire is divided into multiple sections with different diameters: a distal section (0.001-0.008 inches), an intermediate section (0.003-0.015 inches), and a proximal section (0.005-0.020 inches). This segmentation allows each section to have optimized properties for its specific function, enabling the wire to navigate curves effectively while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the guidewire are given different diameters and material properties tailored to their specific functional requirements. The distal section is thinner and more flexible for navigating curves, while the proximal section is thicker and stiffer for providing pushability and support, creating local quality variations that solve the navigation problem.
2Ease of operation
If a guidewire uses a softer distal end, then navigation through curves is improved, but the ability to deliver devices and maintain position is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire is segmented into distinct diameter sections where the distal section (0.001-0.008 inches) provides flexibility for curve navigation, while the intermediate (0.003-0.015 inches) and proximal (0.005-0.020 inches) sections provide progressively increasing stiffness for device delivery and positional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each section of the guidewire has locally optimized properties: the distal section is softer for navigation, while the proximal section is stiffer for strength, creating a gradient that simultaneously achieves both curve navigation and device delivery capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If a guidewire uses a tapered design, then flexibility gradient is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a continuous taper, the guidewire uses discrete segmented sections with specific diameter ranges. This segmentation simplifies manufacturing by allowing each section to be formed with standard tolerances while achieving the desired flexibility gradient through the stepwise diameter changes.
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 guidewire can efficiently form predictable loops with minimal force, improving navigation through anatomical structures and reducing trauma to surrounding tissue, facilitating better cannulation and endoscopic interventions.
Implementation Method 1
The core wire may be made of a superelastic material and having a longitudinal axis. The core wire may include a distal constant diameter section... The core wire may be configured such that when a predetermined longitudinal force is applied to the distal end of the distal constant diameter section along the longitudinal axis, the distal constant diameter section prolapses such that a loop is defined about the inflection point.
Data Source
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AI summary
Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a medical guidewire including a core wire. The core wire may include a distal constant diameter, a first tapered section, an intermediate constant diameter section, a second tapered section, and a proximal constant diameter section. The distal end of the first tapered section may be attached to the proximal end of the distal constant diameter section such that a first inflection point is defined where the distal end of the first tapered section and the proximal end of the distal constant diameter section meet. The core wire may be configured such that when a first predetermined longitudinal force is applied to the distal end of the distal constant diameter section along the longitudinal axis, the distal constant diameter section prolapses such that a first loop is defined about the first inflection point.