ROD-SHAPED BODY

Abstract

The invention relates to a rod-shaped body (1) comprised of one or more filaments (2) and of a non-ferromagnetic matrix material (3). The matrix material (3) surrounds the filament(s) (1) and/or adheres them to one another. The rod-shaped body is also comprised of a dopant consisting of particles that generate magnetic resonance tomographic artifacts that is introduced into the matrix material (3). Rod-shaped bodies of this type can be used to construct guide wires, catheters and other instruments to be used in minimally invasive surgical interventions.

Claims

1. A rod-shaped body comprising: one or more non-metallic filaments; and a non-ferromagnetic matrix material and a multiplicity of doping particles, wherein the non-ferromagnetic matrix material encloses and/or agglutinates the one or more non-metallic filaments, wherein the multiplicity of doping particles are distributed in the non-ferromagnetic matrix material, and wherein the doping particles generate magnetic resonance tomography artefacts.

2. The rod-shaped body according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped body is a rod-shaped body for manufacturing a medical instrument, wherein the medical instrument is a catheter or a guidewire.

3. The rod-shaped body according to claim 1, wherein the one or more non-metallic filaments consist of plastic and/or glass fibre.

4. The rod-shaped body according to claim 1, wherein the non-ferromagnetic matrix material comprises epoxy resin.

5. The rod-shaped body according to claim 1 wherein the doping particles are included continuously along the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped body.

6. The rod-shaped body according to claim 1, wherein the doping particles are included discontinuously along the longitudinal axis of the rod shaped body.

7. The rod-shaped body according to claim 1, wherein the one or more non-metallic filaments are arranged in parallel.

8. The rod-shaped body according to claim 1, wherein the one or more non-metallic filaments are braided with each other, woven, cross-linked, twisted or coiled.

9. The rod-shaped body according to claim 1, wherein a single particle of the multiplicity of doping particles has a mass in the range of micrograms to nanograms and, due to a minimal amount in relation to the non-ferromagnetic matrix material, does not substantially influence outer shape, stability or torquing characteristics of the rod-shaped body.

10. The rod-shaped body according to claim 1, having a diameter in the range of between 0.005 mm and 5 mm or between 0.1 and 1 mm.

11. A cylindrical composite body consisting of: at least one rod-shaped body consisting essentially of: one or more non-metallic filaments; a non-ferromagnetic matrix material, wherein the non-ferromagnetic matrix material encloses and/or agglutinates the one or more non-metallic filaments; and a multiplicity of doping particles distributed in the non-ferromagnetic matrix material, wherein the doping particles generate magnetic resonance tomography artefacts; and a non-ferromagnetic shell material, wherein the shell material encloses and/or agglutinates the at least one rod-shaped body.

12. The cylindrical composite body according to claim 11 consisting of several rod-shaped bodies having the same diameter or different diameters.

13. The cylindrical composite body according to claim 11 consisting of several rod-shaped bodies where a first rod-shaped body of the at least one rod-shaped body is surrounded with at least one secondary rod-shaped body of the at least one rod-shaped body having a smaller diameter.

14. The cylindrical composite body according to claim 11, wherein the at least one secondary rod-shaped body is braided, woven, cross-linked, twisted or coiled around the first rod-shaped body.

15. The cylindrical composite body according to claim 11 having an outer surface and wherein the outer surface is covered with a hydrophilic coating.

16. A tube-shaped composite body consisting of: at least one rod-shaped body, consisting essentially of: one or more non-metallic filaments; a non-ferromagnetic matrix material, wherein the non-ferromagnetic matrix material encloses and/or agglutinates the one or more non-metallic filaments; and a multiplicity of doping particles distributed in the non-ferromagnetic matrix material, wherein the doping particles generate magnetic resonance tomography artefacts; and a non-ferromagnetic shell material, wherein the shell material encloses and/or agglutinates the at least one rod-shaped body.

17. The tube-shaped composite body according to claim 16, consisting of several rod-shaped bodies that are peripherally embedded in a radial distribution in the rod-shaped composite body.

18. The tube-shaped composite body according to claim 16, wherein the rod-shaped bodies are embedded in a regular radial distribution.

19. The tube-shaped composite body according to claim 16, consisting of several rod-shaped bodies wherein the rod-shaped bodies have the same or different diameters.

20. The tube-shaped composite body according to claim 16, consisting of several rod-shaped bodies wherein the rod-shaped bodies are braided with each other, woven, cross-linked, twisted or coiled.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a doped rod of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a cylindrical composite body (guidewire).

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a tube-shaped composite body (catheter).

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through a doped rod.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows the tip of a guidewire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The rod 1 and section of a rod respectively shown in FIG. 1 consist of an elongated glass fibre filament 2 which is embedded in epoxy resin 3 as the matrix material. The rod 1 can be produced using common techniques, particularly by extrusion so as to be virtually endless. After extrusion it may be cut to the length required for further processing.

[0044] Particles producing magnetic resonance tomographic artefacts, e.g. nanoparticles, —not shown—are included in the epoxy resin. These are homogenously distributed in the matrix material so that a rod 1 homogenously doped along its longitudinal axis results.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4 instead of one filament also several filaments 4, 5 can be arranged in a rod-shaped body 1. In the example shown this is a rather thick filament 4 and arranged around this are rather thin filaments 5. All filaments 4, 5 are agglutinated with and encompassed by the epoxy resin 3.

[0046] In FIG. 2, a cylindrical composite body 6 and a section of this are shown. The lengthwise extension can be significantly longer, amounting to e.g. several meters with a diameter of e.g. 0.1 mm.

[0047] The cylindrical composite body 6 is constructed from several rods 1 which are agglutinated and enclosed by a matrix material 7, e.g. an epoxy resin. This matrix material 7 is, in contrast to the matrix material 4, not doped with particles producing magnetic resonance tomographic artefacts. The visibility of the cylindrical composite body 6 in the MRT relies solely on the visibility of the embedded rods 1. In the depicted embodiment, rods 1, 8, 9 with different dopings are included so that, depending on the sequence, different rods 1, 8, 9 become visible in the MRT.

[0048] In the same way, as shown in FIG. 3, a tube-shaped composite body 10 can also be constructed (once again only a section is shown here).

[0049] The tube-shaped composite body 10 is similarly constructed from a shell material 15 and several rods 1, 8, 9 with different doping. All rods are evenly distributed around 10 the periphery of the tube-shaped composite body 10.

[0050] The cylindrical composite body 6 as well as the tube-shaped composite body 10 can be covered with a hydrophilic coating, which is not shown.

[0051] The ends of the cylindrical and tube-shaped composite bodies 6, 10 can be treated in an appropriate manner, e.g. rounded, polished or capped. As shown in FIG. 5, particularly the inner rod 12, in a guidewire 11 with an inner rod 12 and radially distributed outer rods 13, can be shorter than the outer rods 13. These are brought together and form a tip 14 (arrangement of the rods 12 and 13 as displayed in the cross-sections A-A and B-B respectively).