Vascular Dilator Positioning Assembly for Smooth Sheath Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vascular access devices, such as introducer sheaths and dilators, suffer from manufacturing variations that create gaps or catch points during insertion, leading to skin and tissue trauma and potential failed procedures due to imperfect transitions between the dilator tip and sheath.
Innovation Solution
A vascular dilator positioning assembly with a grip portion, actuator, and resilient biasing element, allowing the dilator tip to be moved distally and retracted to manage the gap between the dilator and sheath, ensuring a smooth transition through the use of a spring or alternative biasing mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a tapered dilator tip is used to provide a smooth transition, then skin and tissue trauma is reduced, but manufacturing variations create gaps that defeat the purpose
Solution Approach 1:
The dilator tip is made movable relative to the sheath through a spring-loaded mechanism. The tip can dynamically adjust its position between retracted and extended states, allowing the assembly to adapt to manufacturing variations while maintaining smooth transition during insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
A spring mechanism acts as an intermediary between the dilator tip and sheath, enabling controlled movement of the tip relative to the sheath. This intermediary mechanism compensates for gaps created by manufacturing variations and ensures consistent performance.
2Reliability
If the dilator tip is made movable to compensate for manufacturing variations, then smooth transition is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dilator assembly is segmented into distinct components: a fixed sheath and a movable tip. This segmentation allows the tip to independently adjust its position relative to the sheath, simplifying the overall mechanism while achieving reliable smooth transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded mechanism is self-actuating, using elastic potential energy stored in the spring to automatically adjust the tip position. The system serves itself by converting manufacturing variations into controlled tip movement without requiring external actuation or complex control systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a rounded arrow-head dilator tip is used to provide smooth transition, then trauma is reduced, but gaps still remain due to manufacturing variations
Solution Approach 1:
The dilator tip transitions from a static rounded arrow-head design to a dynamic movable tip that can adjust its position. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the harmful effect of gaps by allowing the tip to maintain optimal alignment with the sheath during insertion.
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 assembly reduces skin and tissue trauma by maintaining a smooth transition between the dilator tip and sheath, minimizing the risk of catching and improving procedural success rates.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient biasing element for biasing a dilator tip with respect to the wall
Data Source
AI summary
Vascular dilator positioning assemblies and vascular dilator positioning systems are described herein. Also provided herein are methods for the use and assembly of these vascular dilator positioning assemblies and systems. Further, these assemblies and systems include a grip portion that has a wall and an actuator for positioning the dilator tip relative to a sheath.