Threaded Coil Positioning for Precise Intravascular Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intravascular device delivery systems face challenges in precise positioning and repositioning of medical devices due to limited movement control and friction within the patient's vasculature, making it difficult to accurately place and reposition devices like heart valves during procedures.
Innovation Solution
A threaded device with an elastically deformable wire spiraled about a longitudinal axis, including a major and minor coil, is used in conjunction with a drive cable to apply rotational and longitudinal forces, allowing for precise control of the intravascular device's position through a threaded coil mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a long elongated body (75 cm or more) is used to deliver the device through the vasculature, then the device can reach distant target locations, but small movements for precise positioning are limited by contact with the vasculature and internal friction
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is divided into multiple segments: an elongated body, a threaded device, and a drive cable. This segmentation allows the drive cable to be rotated independently at the distal end to control the threaded device's position, while the proximal end remains stable for operation. The segmented structure enables precise local adjustments without moving the entire 75 cm+ delivery system through the vasculature.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces rotational movement as an additional degree of freedom for controlling device position. Instead of only pushing/pulling the device longitudinally through the catheter, the threaded mechanism converts rotational motion of the drive cable into precise longitudinal positioning of the device at the distal end, enabling fine control without moving the entire delivery system.
2Reliability
If the elongated body contacts the vasculature to navigate through the patient's body, then the device can be delivered to the target location, but friction and contact limit the ability to make small positioning movements
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the delivery function (elongated body navigating vasculature) from the positioning function (threaded device at distal end). This allows the delivery system to reliably reach the target while the threaded mechanism provides precise positioning control independent of vascular contact and friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the drive cable and the intravascular device. It converts rotational motion from the drive cable into precise longitudinal positioning, enabling accurate placement without directly moving the entire delivery system through the friction-prone vasculature.
3Strength
If internal friction between layers and components is present, then the delivery system can maintain structural integrity, but the friction impairs the user's ability to implement small movements
Solution Approach 1:
The drive cable is rotationally fixed to the threaded device at the distal end, creating a segmented connection that transmits rotational force efficiently. This localized rotational coupling allows precise movement control without requiring the entire elongated body to move, reducing the impact of internal friction between catheter layers and components.
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
This solution enables precise and controlled movement of intravascular devices, overcoming friction and tortuous vascular paths, allowing for reliable placement and repositioning of medical devices within the body.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastically deformable wire spiraled about a longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
threaded device with an elastically deformable wire spiraled about a longitudinal axis, including a major and minor coil, is used in conjunction with a drive cable to apply rotational and longitudinal forces
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3-1~4-2
Figure 5~8
AI summary
An intravascular delivery system includes a threaded coil. The threaded coil includes one or more wires coiled to form a spiral coil with at least one thread extending along a length of the threaded coil. The threaded coil is plastically deformable for delivery of the threaded coil to a target location in the body and is rotatable to longitudinally position an intravascular device at the target location.