Steerable Catheter Tip with V-Shaped Void for Tortuous Vessel Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endovascular catheters face challenges in controlling and navigating through tortuous vascular systems, leading to increased procedure time, operator fatigue, and a higher risk of complications such as thrombosis or infection due to the lack of precise control over the catheter tip.
Innovation Solution
A steerable catheter with a circumferential V-shaped void or 'defect' at its distal end, allowing multiple guidewires to pass through and be manipulated using a control shell to steer the catheter tip, enabling precise navigation through complex vascular anatomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional catheters with straight or curved tips are used, then the catheter structure is simple, but the operator lacks precise control of the catheter tip through tortuous vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple segments: a proximal shaft, a distal section with a joint, and a tip section. The joint acts as a pivot point that allows independent control of the tip orientation. Multiple guidewires (2-10 wires) are embedded in the wall to provide independent control mechanisms, enabling the operator to navigate the tip through complex vascular anatomy while maintaining a relatively simple overall catheter structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter incorporates a joint at the distal end that creates dynamic flexibility. This joint allows the catheter tip to change orientation and direction in response to guidewire manipulation, enabling the catheter to adapt to tortuous vascular pathways. The dynamic joint structure provides precise control without requiring the entire catheter to be flexible or complex.
2Ease of operation
If guidewires are used to help guide the catheter, then navigation through vessels is improved, but the guidewire can kink inside the catheter due to pressure and small size
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple guidewires are embedded within the catheter wall structure itself, with wires positioned in longitudinal cavities or channels within the intermediate layer. This nested arrangement protects the guidewires from external pressure and prevents kinking, while still allowing them to transmit control forces effectively from the operator's hands to the catheter tip.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter wall structure acts as a protective shell that encloses and supports the embedded guidewires. The intermediate layer containing the wires provides structural protection while maintaining flexibility, preventing the guidewires from kinking under pressure while allowing them to move and transmit forces for catheter control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the catheter is manipulated through multiple tortuous vessels, then the target lesion can be reached, but procedure time increases and operator fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter design concentrates flexibility and control capability at the distal tip and joint section, while the proximal shaft remains relatively rigid for easy manipulation. This local differentiation allows the tip to navigate tortuous vessels efficiently with precise control, reducing the time and effort required while maintaining adaptability to complex vascular anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator's manual manipulation and the catheter tip's navigation. By providing a pivot point that amplifies and directs control forces, the joint enables more efficient navigation through tortuous vessels, reducing procedure time and operator fatigue while maintaining high adaptability.
4Reliability
If conventional catheters are used without precise tip control, then the catheter structure remains simple, but the risk of complications such as thrombosis or infection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented catheter design with a controlled joint and embedded guidewires provides precise tip positioning capability, allowing operators to navigate smoothly through vessels and minimize trauma. This reduces the risk of complications while maintaining a manageable catheter structure through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The embedded guidewires within the catheter wall provide self-contained control mechanisms that eliminate the need for separate external guidewires. This integrated design reduces procedural complexity and potential sources of complication while providing precise tip control to minimize vascular trauma and infection risk.
Data Source
AI summary
A steerable endovascular catheter which can be used and for diagnosis and endovascular treatment of vascular diseases. Methods of diagnosis and endovascular treatment comprising steering the catheter through vasculature of a patient.