Actively steerable guidewire with composite shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices, such as guidewires, lack the ability to effectively navigate tortuous vasculature and access side branches due to limited steerability and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A steerable elongate medical device with a composite shaft that includes two shaft components with shape memory properties, allowing the shaft to bend in different directions when heated, and a handle with electrical contacts to control the heating of the shaft components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional guidewire is used, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot navigate tortuous vasculature or access side branches due to limited steerability
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into multiple independently controllable segments or sections, each capable of being heated and bent in different directions. The composite shaft includes first and second shaft components that can be selectively heated to achieve multi-directional steering, allowing the guidewire to navigate complex vascular paths while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft transitions from a static, fixed-configuration structure to a dynamic, actively controllable one. Electrical heating elements allow real-time adjustment of shaft configuration by selectively heating different sections to change their shape memory properties, enabling the guidewire to adapt its shape dynamically to match the tortuous vasculature geometry
2Ease of operation
If the shaft components are heated to change configuration, then precise steering is achieved, but additional energy consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous heating, the system uses periodic or pulsed heating of the shaft components. Electrical current is applied intermittently to heat specific sections only when steering adjustments are needed, allowing the shape memory material to transition between configurations on demand. This reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous heating while maintaining precise steering capability when required
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the shaft components to induce shape memory effects and achieve steering. By controlling the temperature parameter through selective electrical heating, the guidewire can transition between different configurations. This parameter-based control provides precise steering with energy consumption only during the heating transitions rather than continuous energy input
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 device enables precise steering and navigation through complex vascular structures, including access to side branches, by selectively heating the shaft components to change their configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a first shaft component having a straight configuration below a transition temperature and a curved configuration above the transition temperature, the first shaft component causing the composite shaft to bend in the first direction when the first shaft component is in its curved configuration
Implementation Method 2
the first shaft component may be adapted to increase in temperature when an electrical current passes through the first shaft component
Data Source
AI summary
A steerable elongate medical device includes a composite shaft and a handle that is removably securable to the composite shaft. The composite shaft includes a first shaft component and a second shaft component. The composite shaft bends in a first direction when the first shaft component is heated above a transition temperature and bends in the first direction. The composite shaft bends in an opposing second direction when the second shaft component is heated above the transition temperature and bends in the second direction. The handle enables a user to selectively pass an electrical current through either of the first shaft component or the shaft component in order to electrically heat the selected shaft component.