Steerable Guidewire Asymmetric Bendable Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steerable guidewires and catheters for interventional radiology are often bulky, complex, and difficult to use, especially in navigating tortuous blood vessels, requiring sophisticated actuation systems and frequent guidewire replacements, which increases surgery time and risk.
Innovation Solution
A steerable guidewire with a simple, reliable manufacturing process featuring a single-plane deflection mechanism, comprising a bendable portion with a reinforcement structure and a flexible stress relief portion, actuated by a pull wire and a torque device with handles that allow for easy manipulation and control, minimizing the need for complex actuation systems and guidewire replacements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sophisticated actuation systems are used to enable steerable guidewires to navigate tortuous blood vessels, then navigation capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bendable portion is segmented into a reinforcement structure on one lateral side and a flexible stress relief portion on the opposed lateral side. This segmentation allows the guidewire to bend in a controlled single plane by distributing structural properties asymmetrically, achieving navigation capability without requiring complex multi-actuation systems
Solution Approach 2:
The bendable portion employs asymmetric structural design with reinforcement on one side and flexibility on the other side. This asymmetry enables the guidewire to deflect preferentially in one direction (single-plane deflection) when actuated, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining effective navigation through tortuous vessels
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple guidewires with different pre-bent shapes are used to navigate different vessel geometries, then adaptability to various vessel shapes is improved, but device complexity and surgery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire transitions from static pre-bent shapes to a dynamic, controllable bending system. The single-plane bendable portion can be actuated during the procedure to change its deflection angle and direction, allowing one guidewire design to adapt to multiple vessel geometries that previously required different pre-bent wire types
Solution Approach 2:
The steerable guidewire with asymmetric bendable portion serves multiple functions: it can navigate various vessel angles and tortuosity levels through controlled single-plane deflection, eliminating the need for multiple specialized guidewire types. One device design replaces multiple pre-bent configurations
3Adaptability or versatility
If guidewires are frequently replaced and re-bent during surgery to navigate tortuous vessels, then navigation success is improved, but surgery time and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guidewire incorporates a dynamic bendable portion that can be adjusted during the procedure through actuation of the pull wire. This eliminates the need to extract and re-bend the guidewire multiple times, as the same guidewire can be dynamically repositioned to navigate different vessel configurations, reducing procedure time and infection risk
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a user-friendly, cost-effective, and miniaturized steerable device that can navigate complex vascular networks with enhanced control, reducing surgery time and risks associated with guidewire replacements and tip reshaping.
Implementation Method 1
a pull wire connected to the distal end of the bendable portion and extending therefrom up to said proximal end along said lumen
Implementation Method 2
the bendable portion comprises a reinforcement structure positioned on one lateral side and a flexible, stress relief portion positioned on the opposed lateral side
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure concerns a steerable device for use as e.g. a guidewire for insertion into a subject's body. The device features a single side deflection of a bendable portion located at its distal end by application of a longitudinally-directed force either on an inner pull wire or on the bendable portion. The bendable portion is characterized by the presence of a reinforcement structure on one lateral side and a stress relief portion on the opposed lateral side that, upon actuation of the device, allows single side bending thanks to the physical constriction of the reinforcement structure, limiting the compression of one side of the bendable portion. The disclosure further concerns a system further comprising the steerable device and an actuator, as well as methods for using thereof.