Sphincterotome Deflection Member and Offset Nose for Wire Guide Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigating medical devices, such as wire guides, through branched body passageways, like the biliary tree, is challenging due to their inability to maneuver against the natural pathway, making it difficult to access and navigate within the desired branch.
Innovation Solution
A medical sphincterotome with a tubular member, cutting wire, and deflection member that allows the wire guide to be directed into a selected body passageway by using a distal port and deflection member to deflect the wire guide at an angle away from the longitudinal axis, and an offset nose-shaped end that can block one duct to force the wire guide into another, enabling precise navigation through bifurcations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wire guide is used to navigate through branched body passageways, then the wire guide can be introduced into the biliary tree, but it lacks the ability to maneuver in a particular direction especially against the natural pathway
Solution Approach 1:
The sphincterotome acts as an intermediary device that provides directional control over the wire guide. The deflection member inside the tubular member allows the operator to steer the wire guide into the desired branch by deflecting it at an angle, while the offset nose-shaped end serves as a mediator to block unwanted pathways and guide the wire guide through the correct duct.
2Productivity
If the wire guide follows its natural pathway preference, then it can move forward easily, but it cannot access the desired branch of the bifurcation
Solution Approach 1:
The offset nose-shaped end is pre-configured to block the first duct before the wire guide is advanced, forcing the wire guide into the second duct. The deflection member is pre-positioned within the tubular member to deflect the wire guide at a specific angle, ensuring precise directional control before the wire guide is pushed forward.
3Device complexity
If conventional sphincterotomes are used without deflection members, then the structure is simpler, but they cannot reliably direct the wire guide into selected body passageways
Solution Approach 1:
The sphincterotome is segmented into distinct functional components: the tubular member for containing and directing the wire guide, the deflection member for changing the wire guide's direction, and the offset nose-shaped end for blocking unwanted pathways. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function, improving reliability without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical sphincterotome and a method of its use are described. The sphincterotome has structural elements that are capable of directing a wire guide through a selected body passageway. One structural element includes a distal port and deflection member that can deflect the wire guide into the desired passageway. Another structural element includes an offset nose-shaped end that can bend towards a passageway desired to be blocked. The wire guide is prevented from entering the blocked passageway, thereby enabling the wire guide to cannulate the desired passageway. The sphincterotome also includes a cutting wire to access a patient's sphincter and perform various other medical procedures.