OPPapers.com

Finite Element Modellisation Of Balloon Catheter

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1

Introduction

The Company.

Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices with approximately 16,000 employees and revenue of $5.6 billion in 2004.

Boston Scientific's mission is to improve the quality of patient care and the productivity of health care delivery through the development and advocacy of less invasive medical devices and procedures.

Boston Scientific's history began in the late 1960s, when co-founder John Abele acquired an equity interest in Medi-tech, Inc., a research and development company focused on developing alternatives to traditional surgery.

(Online: Boston Scientific)

The Product

The Extractor RX Retrieval Balloon is indicated for use endoscopically to remove stones from the biliary system, or to facilitate or contrast medium while occluding the duct with the balloon
The Extractor RX Retrieval Balloon is compatible with the RX Biliary System, which is designed to provide secure guidewire access during device advancement, manipulation and exchange.
(Online: Extractor ™ RX Retrieval Balloon Spec Sheet)
The Problem
In testing, the balloon sometimes separates from the tube upon inflation. The separation is caused by failure in peeling of the adhesive.
In order to develop a more suitable adhesive, we must first define the forces it will be under. These forces are complex due to the hyperelastic behaviour of the latex balloon. We will rely on a finite element analysis of the catheter to solve for these forces.
Before a finite element analysis can be attempted the hyperelastic properties of the latex must be found.
To successfully address this problem the following tasks must be accomplished;
1. Research hyperelastic behaviour to the point of being able to test hyperelastic properties.
2. Design and build equipment suitable to test hyperelastic properties using available resources.
3. Input properties to Ansys and model catheter...