Steerable Catheter Delivery of Rigid Intravascular Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intravascular procedures face challenges in delivering rigid devices through torturous anatomy due to limited mobility within the left atrium, requiring precise alignment and additional instruments for steering, which increases complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

A steerable intravascular device delivery system with a flexible elongated member and a steerable outer sleeve, allowing for precise control and deflection of a rigid intravascular device through multiple planes, combined with a handle for controlling movements, to navigate through the heart's chambers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a catheter is inserted and directed through the vasculature to the heart, then intravascular device delivery is achieved, but the small radius turns through torturous anatomy limit the capacity to deliver devices of different dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapacity to deliver intravascular devices of different dimensionsVSAvoidcomplexity of delivery system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery system is divided into multiple segments: an outer catheter, an inner steerable catheter, and a delivery device. This segmentation allows each component to perform specific functions, enabling the system to navigate tortuous anatomy while delivering various device sizes through sequential advancement and steering actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner steerable catheter is nested within the outer catheter, and the delivery device is nested within the inner catheter. This nested configuration allows the system to maintain a compact profile during navigation through small radius turns while providing the capacity to deliver devices of different dimensions by extending or deploying components in sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Measurement precision

If positioning or steering mechanisms are built into each instrument for multi-instrument procedures, then precise positioning is achieved, but cost, complexity, and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidcomplexity of each instrument

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inner steerable catheter serves multiple functions: it provides steering control, acts as a delivery conduit, and enables positioning of the delivery device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate steering mechanisms in each instrument, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise positioning capability through the shared steerable catheter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The steering mechanism is merged into the inner catheter that is already required for device delivery. By combining the steering function with the delivery function in a single component, the system achieves precise positioning without adding separate steering mechanisms to each instrument, thereby reducing cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If precise alignment with target areas is required for ablation placement, then treatment accuracy is improved, but procedural time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The inner steerable catheter is advanced and positioned in the right atrium before the delivery device is deployed. This preliminary positioning action establishes the correct trajectory and alignment with the target area in advance, allowing for rapid and accurate device placement without requiring time-consuming adjustments during the ablation procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical alignment mechanisms with a steerable catheter that can be dynamically positioned by advancing and deflecting it to the target location. This approach simplifies the alignment process while maintaining high precision, reducing procedural time compared to traditional mechanical alignment systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3503845B1A catheter for delivering a rigid intravascular device

Publication Date: 2026.05.06 CEPHEA VALVE TECHNOLOGIES INC

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AI summary

A method of delivering a rigid intravascular device to a target location in a patient's heart includes positioning a distal tip of an elongated member of the intravascular device delivery system in a right atrium of a heart and moving the distal tip of the elongated member into a left atrium of the heart. The method includes advancing an inner steerable catheter of the elongated member longitudinally distally relative to an outer sleeve of the elongated member a first longitudinal distance; deflecting at least a portion of the inner steerable catheter a first deflection amount; then advancing an inner steerable catheter of the elongated member longitudinally distally relative to an outer sleeve of the elongated member a second longitudinal distance; and then deflecting at least a portion of the inner steerable catheter a second deflection amount.