CASE STUDY | CATHETER SHEATH

Optimising Sheath Performance in Tortuous Vascular Pathways

How Salt Medical addressed shape instability in a complex vascular intervention through targeted sheath structure optimisation.








MEDICAL DEVICE ENGINEERING

PERFORMANCE OPTIMISATION

90°

Bend evaluation

180°

Bend evaluation

3

Critical performance areas improved

THE CHALLENGE

When navigating complex anatomy, stability and flexibility need to work together.

In one complex vascular intervention application, a customer experienced significant shape instability within critical bending segments of the access pathway.

01

THE PROBLEM

The original sheath design demonstrated shape instability at critical bending pathway segments, affecting pathway establishment efficiency and increasing potential procedural challenges.

02

THE ENGINEERING REQUIREMENT

The design needed to maintain shape stability while navigating demanding bends and support the performance characteristics required for vascular intervention.

THE SALT MEDICAL APPROACH

Targeted structural optimisation

Following a systematic review of the application requirements, the Salt Medical team optimised the sheath structure using coiled spring reinforcement principles.

Anti-kinking performance

Maintaining shape stability when passing through curves.

 

 

Pushability

Supporting smooth advancement with minimal resistance.

 

 

Torque transmission

Supporting rapid response of the distal end during torquing with a one to one response.

 

THE RESULT

Maintaining performance through demanding bends

Compared with the original design, the improved sample demonstrated no kinking phenomena at both 90° and 180° bends, with significant improvements in kink and support performance

90° + 180°

No kinking observed in the improved sample

Anti-Kinking

Improved structural stability

Pushability

Smooth advancement

Torque transmission

One to one response and precise control

Application-focused

Optimisation based on the specific customer application scenario.

HAVE A SIMILAR CHALLENGE?

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