Toroidal Balloon Construction via Integrated Extrusion and Molding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical toroidal balloons lack optimal construction techniques that allow for efficient integration with medical devices, limiting their utility in providing rotational movement without frictional contact with biological tissues.

Innovation Solution

The method involves constructing a toroidal balloon as part of a medical device using an extruded tube, where specific segments are molded and advanced to form a toroidal configuration, eliminating the need for separate balloon attachment and bonding, and incorporating a fenestrated bridge for inflation and structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If standard manufacturing techniques (extrusion and blow-molding) are used to create toroidal balloons, then the balloons can be produced with consistent geometry, but the integration with medical devices requires separate attachment steps using chemical or heat bonding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveballoon geometry consistencyVSAvoidconstruction steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the balloon and medical device into a single integrated structure by forming the toroidal balloon directly around the medical device during the extrusion and blow-molding process. The medical device is positioned within the mold cavity during balloon formation, eliminating the need for separate attachment steps and chemical or heat bonding processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If toroidal balloons are constructed separately and then attached to medical devices, then material selection is flexible, but material discrepancies between balloon and device can cause bonding issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial selection flexibilityVSAvoidbonding reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the balloon and medical device as a unified structure formed simultaneously in the mold. This eliminates the bonding interface that would exist between separately constructed components, thereby eliminating bonding reliability issues while preserving material selection flexibility through the choice of materials used in the extrusion and molding processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If traditional toroidal balloons are inflated, then they can dilate biological structures, but they do not allow movement of the medical device through the balloon

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedilation capabilityVSAvoiddevice movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a toroidal balloon with a central aperture that remains open during inflation, allowing the medical device to pass through the center of the balloon. The balloon segments are arranged to form a toroidal shape rather than a complete enclosure, enabling simultaneous dilation of surrounding biological structures and movement of the medical device through the central channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a toroidal balloon is designed to rotate over biological tissue, then friction is minimized, but the construction must allow for rotational movement while maintaining structural integrity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction reductionVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the toroidal balloon with a flexible structure that can rotate around the medical device while maintaining its toroidal shape. The balloon material and construction allow for rotational movement by providing flexibility in the balloon walls while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to withstand inflation pressures and prevent collapse during rotation through biological passages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 approach enables the creation of rotating toroidal balloons that can move within biological tissues with minimal friction, enhancing their utility in medical procedures such as ureteral stone extraction by integrating the balloon seamlessly with the medical device, reducing construction steps and material discrepancies.

Implementation Method 1

raising a temperature within the mold cavity and inflating the second segment of the extruded tube so it conforms to a cylindrical shape of the mold cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS11413435B2Methods for construction of medical devices containing toroidal balloons

Publication Date: 2022.08.16 MASSICOTTE J MATHIEU

AI summary

The geometry of a toroidal balloon requires that a traditional cylindrical balloon to be rotated internally into itself and the ends of the cylinder be placed in close proximity for maximal balloon rotation and to allow an entrance port for inflation of the balloon and/or attachment to an associated medical device. Described within are various techniques for the creation of such toroidal balloons.