Segmented Nozzle for Selective Medical Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nozzles for applying coating liquids to medical elongated bodies, such as catheters, struggle to accurately and efficiently apply the coating to specific portions, leading to cumbersome manufacturing processes due to the need for masking and subsequent removal, which can decrease welding intensity in welded parts.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle and coating device with a distal portion that holds the coating liquid and a main body with a lumen for delivery, combined with a movement mechanism that allows for precise application along the axial direction of the medical elongated body, enabling selective and easy application of the coating liquid to arbitrary portions without the need for masking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a jet-type nozzle is used to blow coating liquid on the medical elongated body, then the coating liquid can be applied to the body, but it is not easy to accurately apply the coating liquid only to the arbitrary portion
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is segmented into a nozzle main body portion and a nozzle distal portion, where the distal portion can be positioned at the distal end of the main body. This segmentation allows the nozzle to be configured with a holding space at the distal end, enabling precise positioning and selective coating application at specific arbitrary portions of the medical elongated body without requiring masking.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a spatial dimension by positioning the holding space at the distal end of the nozzle main body, allowing the coating liquid to be applied from a controlled distance and position. This dimensional arrangement enables accurate targeting of arbitrary portions along the axial direction without the need for additional masking steps.
2Manufacturing precision
If masking is provided to divide the medical elongated body into application region and non-application region, then the coating liquid can be accurately applied, but the steps associated with providing and removing the masking become necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the masking step from the manufacturing process by incorporating a holding space at the distal end of the nozzle. This holding space allows the coating liquid to be held and applied precisely at arbitrary portions directly, removing the need for separate masking and unmasking operations while maintaining accurate coating application.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle structure with the holding space at the distal end provides self-positioning and self-targeting capability, allowing the coating liquid to be applied automatically to the desired arbitrary portion without requiring external masking tools or additional process steps. The nozzle itself serves the dual function of delivery and positioning.
3Ease of manufacture
If coating liquid is applied to the medical elongated body before welding, then the coating can be applied, but the welding intensity decreases in the welded part
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables dynamic selection of coating application positions along the axial direction of the medical elongated body. By positioning the holding space at the distal end of the nozzle, the coating can be selectively applied to arbitrary portions that do not interfere with welding areas, allowing the process to adapt between coating and welding operations to maintain welding intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle structure allows different portions of the medical elongated body to have different treatment qualities - the holding space enables precise local coating application at specific arbitrary portions while leaving other portions (particularly welded parts) free from coating that would reduce welding intensity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between coating application and welding quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle, a coating device, and a coating method are able to selectively and easily apply a coating liquid to desired portion of a medical elongated body. The nozzle includes a nozzle distal portion that is provided with a holding space in which a coating liquid to be applied to a shaft can be held, and a nozzle main body portion that is provided with a lumen through which the coating liquid is delivered to the nozzle distal portion, and an opening portion via which the lumen and the holding space communicate with each other.