Steerable Medical Device Radial Wire Guide Deflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steerable medical devices face limitations in angle-of-deflection capabilities and require high pull force due to their small diameter, which restricts their maneuverability in anatomically constrained spaces.

Innovation Solution

A medical device with a steerable elongated body and radially deployable control wire guides that allow for wide-angle deflection by offsetting the control wire from the longitudinal axis, reducing the required pull force through a segmented structure with pivoting struts and a tubular sheath for deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the device body diameter is reduced to fit through standard delivery ports, then deliverability is improved, but angle-of-deflection capability deteriorates and pull force requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice body diameterVSAvoidangle-of-deflection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device body is divided into multiple segments that can articulate relative to each other, enabling wide-angle deflection while maintaining a compact overall diameter for delivery through standard ports

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Control wire guides are deployed radially outward from the longitudinal axis into a third dimension, creating leverage points that amplify deflection angles without increasing the device's longitudinal or radial profile beyond delivery constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the device body diameter is reduced to fit through standard delivery ports, then deliverability is improved, but pull force requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice body diameterVSAvoidpull force

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Control wire guides extend radially outward from the longitudinal axis, creating perpendicular leverage arms that reduce the pull force needed to generate sufficient bending moment for deflection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented structure with articulation points allows force to be applied more efficiently at multiple locations along the device body, reducing the total pull force required compared to a single-point deflection mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If control wire guides are deployed radially outward, then angle-of-deflection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangle-of-deflection capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Control wire guides transition from a collapsed configuration during delivery to an extended radial configuration during use, allowing the device to achieve wide-angle deflection capability only when needed while maintaining simplicity during delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control wire guides are nested within or alongside the device body segments in a collapsed state during delivery, then deployed outward to their functional positions, allowing the complex structure to be packaged within a simpler delivery profile

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11324528B2Steerable medical device

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 HUMANTOUCH SURGICAL LTD

AI summary

A medical device and a system including same are provided. The medical device includes an elongated device body, at least a portion of which is steerable within a body of a subject via at least one control wire; and a plurality of control wire guides disposed along the elongated device body and being deployable to deflect the at least one control wire away from a longitudinal axis of the elongated device body.