Sensor Guide Wire Circular Core Tip Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor guide wires face challenges in achieving sufficient flexibility, pull strength, and steering response, especially when navigating through tortuous vessels, as the current designs often limit flexibility to two directions and require additional reinforcements for improved steering capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A sensor guide wire with a core wire having a circular cross-section in the tip region, which provides enhanced flexibility and pull strength, allowing for improved steering response without the need for additional reinforcements, by ensuring the core wire's circular cross-section covers a major part of the tip region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the core wire is flattened at the tip to improve flexibility in two directions, then flexibility is improved, but steering response and flexibility in all directions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from a symmetric circular cross-section to an asymmetric flattened cross-section at the tip region. This asymmetric flattening provides flexibility in two specific directions while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and steering response by adapting the wire geometry to the specific navigation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by varying the core wire cross-section along its length - circular in the proximal region for strength and steering response, and flattened in the distal tip region for flexibility. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its properties for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between overall flexibility and local steering response.
2Ease of operation
If additional reinforcements are added to improve steering response, then steering response is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the core wire's geometric parameters (cross-sectional shape and diameter) along its length rather than adding separate reinforcement components. The circular-to-flattened transition and diameter variations achieve the desired steering response through geometric parameter optimization, avoiding additional structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the core wire diameter is reduced to increase flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but pull strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing diameter variations along the core wire length - larger diameter in proximal regions for pull strength and smaller diameter in distal regions for flexibility. This local differentiation allows the wire to achieve both high flexibility at the tip and sufficient pull strength in the body, resolving the contradiction between these two mechanical properties.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sensor guide wire (1) for intravascular measurements of at least one variable in a living body, which sensor guide wire (1) has a proximal region (2), a distal sensor region (3) and a tip region (4). The sensor guide wire (1) comprises, a sensor element arranged in said sensor region (3), a tip region core wire (5) having a longitudinal axis (6) and extending essentially along said tip region (4), and a coil (7) arranged in said tip region (4). The coil (7) at least partly encloses said tip region core wire (5), and a distal tip joint (8) is arranged at a distal end (9) of said sensor guide wire (1) for attaching said coil (7) to said tip region core wire (5). A major part of said tip region core wire (5) has a circular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (6).