Steerable Medical Device Strain Relief Electrical Cable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steerable medical instruments face challenges in maintaining minimal strain on electrical cables when navigating tortuous paths, leading to potential damage and reduced maneuverability due to inadequate cable strain relief designs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of ring-shaped wire-guiding members with void regions and strain relief elements, such as coiled or folded electrical cables, to provide slack and minimize contact with control wires, allowing the electrical cables to adapt to bends without significant strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electrical wiring cables are routed through the wall of the tubular shaft offset from the central axis, then the instrument can be steered through tortuous paths, but the cable experiences increased strain and may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical cable is divided into multiple segments separated by strain relief elements. Each segment can move independently relative to the cable sheath, allowing the cable to accommodate bending and curvature changes without transmitting excessive strain along its entire length, thus maintaining cable integrity while enabling tortuous path navigation
Solution Approach 2:
Strain relief elements are introduced as intermediary components between the electrical cable and the cable sheath. These elements act as mediators that decouple the cable from the sheath, allowing relative movement and absorbing strain during navigation through tortuous paths, thereby protecting the cable from damage
2Reliability
If cable strain relief designs provide substantial contact with other structures, then strain is reduced, but the electrical wiring geometry is limited and functionality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The strain relief elements are positioned at specific locations along the electrical cable where strain is most likely to occur, rather than providing uniform contact along the entire cable length. This localized approach provides effective strain relief at critical points while maintaining geometric flexibility and functionality in other regions
Solution Approach 2:
The strain relief elements are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position and configuration as the cable moves through tortuous paths. This dynamic capability enables the cable to maintain both strain relief and geometric flexibility without being constrained by rigid contact structures
Data Source
AI summary
A steerable medical instrument, such as a catheter or endoscope, comprises a tubular body having non-steerable section and steerable sections arranged from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The tubular body defines a tool channel and a plurality of wire conduits formed along the wall of the tubular body. The steerable section includes wire-guiding members arranged in lengthwise direction alternated with void regions. A control wire arranged in a first conduit within the wall of the tubular body is connected to an actuator and transfers an actuating force to bend the steerable section. An electrical cable arranged along the wall of the tubular body has strain relief elements. The strain relief elements are portions of the cable arranged in at least one void region and configured to freely move within the void regions to provide strain relief to the electrical cable when the tubular body bends.