Segmented Medical Guidewire Resilient Tip Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional guidewires face a dilemma between stiffness for pushability and flexibility, with stainless steel cores being prone to kinking and Nitinol cores lacking sufficient stiffness for maneuverability, leading to potential vessel damage and limited access in complex vascular paths.
Innovation Solution
A guidewire design featuring a solid stainless steel core with a tapered distal section and an overlapping superelastic Nitinol or Nitinol-based resilient portion, which increases flexibility and pushability while minimizing kinking, allowing for predictable steering and repeated use without reshaping or replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a full stainless steel core is used to provide stiffness for pushability, then the guidewire can push through vasculature effectively, but the thinner distal tip tends to kink when bending
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire is divided into distinct segments with different material properties: a proximal stainless steel core for stiffness and pushability, and a distal Nitinol resilient portion for flexibility and kink resistance. This segmentation allows each section to perform its optimal function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidewire combines two different materials (stainless steel and Nitinol) with complementary properties into a single composite structure. The stainless steel provides structural integrity and pushability, while the Nitinol portion provides superelasticity and resistance to kinking, creating a guidewire that exhibits both stiffness and flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the distal tip is made thinner to improve flexibility and reduce vessel damage, then the guidewire can navigate tortuous paths better, but it becomes more prone to kinking
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the guidewire are assigned different material qualities: the distal tip uses Nitinol with superelastic properties specifically where flexibility and kink resistance are needed, while the proximal section uses stainless steel for stiffness. This local differentiation allows the thin distal tip to be both flexible and resistant to kinking.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a stainless steel core is used to maintain structural integrity, then the guidewire has good torque control, but it lacks flexibility for navigating complex vascular paths
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire structure is segmented into a proximal stainless steel core for structural integrity and torque control, and a distal Nitinol resilient portion for flexibility and adaptability. This allows the guidewire to maintain structural stability while navigating complex vascular anatomy.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the distal tip is made thinner to reduce vessel damage, then the guidewire is more flexible, but it requires more frequent replacement due to kinking
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction with Nitinol at the distal tip provides superelastic properties that prevent permanent kinking, allowing the guidewire to be repeatedly bent and shaped during procedures without requiring replacement. This maintains the thin profile needed for vessel safety while enabling repeated use.
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 achieves enhanced pushability and flexibility, reducing the risk of kinking and vessel damage, enabling more effective navigation through tortuous vascular paths with improved maneuverability and reduced fluoroscopy exposure.
Implementation Method 1
an overlapping superelastic Nitinol or Nitinol-based resilient portion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
One aspect is a medical guidewire (10) including a core wire (12) with a proximal end (18) extending out to a distal end (16) and a resilient portion (14) coupled to the distal end of the core wire at a distal tip section of the guidewire. The resilient portion includes a superelastic material.