Slit Guidewire Introducer for Valve Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The flexible or floppy end of a guidewire can be difficult to insert past a valve in a connector, such as a y-connector, during catheterization procedures, requiring manual threading of the guidewire introducer over the entire length of the guidewire, which is cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A guidewire introducer with a slit, either lengthwise, spiral, or zig-zag configuration, is used to facilitate the insertion and removal of the guidewire through the valve, allowing the flexible end to advance past the valve without needing to thread the introducer over the entire length of the guidewire, and featuring a tapered portion for easy insertion and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the guidewire introducer is threaded over the entire length of the guidewire to the proximal end, then the flexible end of the guidewire can be inserted past the valve in the connector, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire introducer is divided into a proximal portion and a distal portion separated by a slit. This segmentation allows the introducer to be removed from the connector without threading it over the entire guidewire length, as the distal portion can be detached independently through the slit, significantly reducing procedural time while maintaining ease of guidewire insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The slit in the guidewire introducer acts as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates the removal of the introducer from the connector. By providing a separation point, the slit enables the introducer to be extracted without requiring complete threading over the guidewire, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If the guidewire introducer is threaded over the entire length of the guidewire, then the guidewire can be loaded into the connector, but the complexity of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the introducer into proximal and distal portions with a slit, the device simplifies the loading procedure. The slit allows the distal portion to be removed independently, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining ease of guidewire loading through the valve.
3Reliability
If a valve is included in the connector to prohibit fluid exit, then fluid containment is improved, but the insertion of flexible guidewire end past the valve becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The slit in the guidewire introducer serves as an intermediary that facilitates guidewire insertion through the valve while maintaining fluid containment. The slit allows the introducer to be manipulated and removed without compromising the valve's ability to prohibit fluid exit, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for loading a guidewire into a connector using a guidewire introducer includes inserting a guidewire introducer into a proximal end of a connector, the guidewire introducer having a proximal end, a distal end and a slit along the length of the guidewire introducer between the proximal end and the distal end. The guidewire introducer is advanced past a valve in the proximal end of the connector. A distal end of a guidewire is inserted into the proximal end of the guidewire introducer and advanced through the guidewire introducer and through the y-connector. The guidewire introducer is removed from the connector so that the distal end of the guidewire introducer is outside of the y-connector and proximate to the proximal end of the connector. The guidewire introducer is removed from the guidewire using the slit in the guidewire introducer.