Segmented Spine Strut Rotation for Medical Probe Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of medical probes with segmented spine struts and electrodes is challenging due to difficulties in forming a spherical basket assembly, leading to increased time and cost, as well as potential misalignment and failure of electrode bonds.
Innovation Solution
A medical probe design featuring a tubular shaft with an expandable basket assembly that includes spine sections and a loop retention hub, allowing segmented spine struts to rotate and form various shapes, facilitating easier assembly and alignment of electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrodes are attached to spines using soldering, welding, or adhesive before forming spherical basket, then electrode attachment is achieved, but manufacturing time increases and misalignment/failure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrodes are pre-positioned on the linear spines before the spines are assembled into the spherical basket configuration. This preliminary attachment action allows the electrodes to be secured in their correct positions beforehand, eliminating the need for time-consuming alignment and bonding operations after basket formation, thereby reducing manufacturing time while maintaining bond reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The basket is constructed from multiple linear spines that are assembled segment by segment. By attaching electrodes to individual spines before assembly, the complex spherical structure is built from manageable linear components, making the manufacturing process more efficient and reducing the risk of misalignment compared to attempting to attach electrodes to the completed spherical structure
2Ease of manufacture
If electrodes are attached to spines and then spherical basket is formed, then complete basket assembly is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The basket assembly process is segmented into manageable steps: first attaching electrodes to linear spines, then assembling the spines into the spherical configuration. This segmentation of the manufacturing process into discrete, sequential operations simplifies the overall complexity compared to attempting to form the complete spherical basket with electrodes already in position
Solution Approach 2:
The electrodes are preliminarily attached to the spines in a simple linear configuration before the more complex spherical assembly takes place. This preliminary action reduces the complexity of the final assembly step, as the electrodes are already in their correct positions and orientations before the spines are arranged into the spherical basket structure
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed technology includes a segmented spine comprising a first electrode, a first spine strut, and a second spine strut. The first spine strut comprises a first attachment point configured to couple with the first electrode. The second spine strut comprises a second attachment point configured to couple with the first electrode. The first spine strut and second spine strut can comprise of additional attachment points configured to engage with a distal retention hub or a tubular shaft. The attachment points can be configured to permit the plurality of spine struts to rotate around the respective attachment points.