Swellable Hydrogel Transducer Coupling for Ultrasound Catheters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ultrasound imaging systems, such as IVUS and ICE, require repeated flushing of the catheter lumen to remove air and ensure optimal acoustic signal transmission, which prolongs imaging procedures and is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A catheter assembly with a swellable material, such as hydrogel, is disposed over the transducer, which swells upon exposure to fluids like water or blood, filling the space between the transducer and sheath to create an acoustically favorable medium, reducing the need for repeated flushing and enhancing signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional ultrasound imaging systems are used without swellable material, then the catheter lumen requires repeated flushing to remove air bubbles, but this prolongs imaging procedures and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The swellable material is applied to the transducer surface before insertion into the catheter. Upon contact with fluid in the catheter lumen, the material automatically swells to fill the space between the transducer and sheath, creating an acoustically favorable medium in advance and eliminating the need for repeated flushing operations during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The swellable material automatically responds to fluid exposure by swelling to the appropriate size, self-regulating the acoustic coupling medium without requiring external intervention or repeated flushing operations. The material serves itself by detecting fluid presence and adjusting its volume accordingly.
2Reliability
If repeated flushing is performed to maintain optimal acoustic signal transmission, then signal quality is maintained, but the procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The swellable material automatically maintains optimal acoustic coupling by swelling in response to fluid exposure, eliminating the need for repeated manual flushing operations. The system self-regulates the acoustic medium, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining reliable signal transmission throughout the imaging procedure.
3Productivity
If air bubbles are allowed to remain in the catheter lumen, then procedure time is reduced, but acoustic signal transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful presence of air bubbles into a beneficial outcome. By allowing fluid to naturally enter the catheter lumen during insertion, the swellable material uses this fluid exposure as the trigger mechanism to swell and eliminate air bubbles, transforming what would normally require active removal into a self-correcting process that improves both efficiency and signal quality.
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 swellable material eliminates air bubbles and maintains an acoustically favorable medium, reducing procedure time and improving imaging efficiency by ensuring continuous signal transmission without the need for additional fluid injection during the procedure.
Implementation Method 1
a swellable material, such as hydrogel, is disposed over the transducer, which swells upon exposure to fluids like water or blood
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter assembly for an ultrasound system includes an elongated catheter for insertion into the cardiovascular system of a patient. The catheter includes a sheath that defines a lumen extending along the sheath. The catheter assembly also includes an imaging core for inserting into the lumen of the catheter. The imaging core includes an elongated, rotatable driveshaft and an imaging device coupled to the distal end of the driveshaft with rotation of the driveshaft causing a corresponding rotation of the imaging device. The imaging device includes at least one transducer for transforming applied electrical signals to acoustic signals and also for transforming received echo signals to electrical signals. The imaging core further includes a swellable material disposed on at least the at least one transducer and configured and arranged to rotate with rotation of the driveshaft and to swell upon exposure to a fluid.