Valvuloplasty Balloon Catheter Rib Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Balloon catheters used in valvuloplasty procedures often slip or jump out of position during inflation, risking damage to the heart or failure to open the valve effectively, due to the dynamics of the balloon and heart/valve function.
Innovation Solution
A balloon catheter assembly with inflatable rib elements at its ends, featuring a retaining shoulder with an interior angle greater than the balloon's wall portion, and discontinuous rib sections to prevent flattening, ensuring secure positioning and easy deflation without specialized tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the balloon is inflated to open the valve, then the valve function is improved, but the balloon may slip or jump out of position causing heart damage
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is divided into a body portion and separate end portions that can be inflated independently. The end portions are equipped with rib elements that provide retention function, allowing the balloon to maintain position during valve opening while preventing slippage that could cause heart damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib elements are pre-formed on the balloon ends before inflation. These ribs create retaining shoulders that engage with the valve anatomy in advance, ensuring the balloon remains properly positioned throughout the inflation process and preventing positional slippage that could harm the heart.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the balloon is inflated quickly to avoid trauma, then the procedure safety is improved, but the balloon may slip out of position due to dynamic forces
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon system is designed to handle dynamic forces during rapid inflation. The rib elements on the inflated end portions create mechanical retention through retaining shoulders that resist the dynamic slippage forces generated during quick balloon expansion, maintaining position stability even during rapid procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the balloon into body and end portions with independent inflation capability, the system allows the ends to be secured in place while the body inflates rapidly. This segmentation enables quick valve opening without compromising positional stability.
3Reliability
If solid ribs are used to prevent slippage, then the retention function is improved, but the balloon cannot be wrapped to small footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The rib elements are formed from the same flexible balloon material rather than being solid rigid structures. This allows the ribs to maintain their retention function when inflated while enabling the entire balloon to be wrapped to a small footprint when deflated, as the flexible ribs can collapse with the balloon material.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib elements change their physical state between deflated and inflated conditions. When deflated, the ribs are compressed into the balloon material, allowing compact wrapping. When inflated, the ribs expand to create retaining shoulders that prevent slippage. This parameter change enables both small footprint and effective retention.
Data Source
AI summary
A valvuloplasty balloon assembly includes a balloon (50) provided with end shoulders (64, 66) preferably integral with end cones (54, 56) of the balloon (50). The end shoulders (64, 66) provide a substantially perpendicular stop shoulder (68) at either end of the cylindrical portion (52) of the balloon (50). The restraining shoulders (64, 66) act to hold the balloon (50) within a valve (16) of a heart (10), for instance. This prevents unwanted slippage of the balloon (50) during a valvuloplasty procedure and thus prevents possible damage caused as a result of such slippage.