Vascular disease has become a major health problem for more than 17 million people. Whether the buildup of arterial plaque occurs in the extremities, known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), or in the blood vessels surrounding the heart, known as coronary artery disease, it constricts the blood fl ow, threatens the health, and compromises the lifestyles of its victims. Angioplasty, the traditional treatment of the condition, involves the use of a balloon on the end of a catheter to infl ate blood vessels. However, this method is not always eff ective, particularly in removing the calcifi ed plaque that is oft en the primary source of the problem.
Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI), is revolutionizing the treatment of vascular disease through the development of a disposable, diamond-coated, catheter-based device. Utilizing the principle of centrifugal force, CSI’s device orbits the interior wall of the artery at speeds of 200,000 revolutions per minute and grinds away up to 90 percent of the plaque creating the obstruction—a procedure known as orbital atherectomy. A new version of the Diamondback 360® OAD System, which is cleared by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in limb arteries, began clinical trials for the treatment of coronary artery disease in 2010.
Although the company used 2D design techniques to conceptualize the technology, commercializing CSI’s products required a more capable 3D system, according to Christopher Narveson, design and engineering services manager. “CSI needed a 3D package to bring our technology to market because of the need to visualize and analyze design concepts, materials, and manufacturing techniques,” Narveson recalls. “While 2D got us started, producing a viable commercial product demanded 3D.”
After evaluating leading 3D design systems, CSI chose SolidWorks, eventually implementing eight SolidWorks CAD licenses as well as additional seats of SolidWorks Simulation Premium analysis and SolidWorks Composer technical communication software. The company chose SolidWorks because of its ease of use, advanced manufacturability assessment tools, integrated simulation applications, and design communication solutions. “SolidWorks is a really strong package that provided the platform we needed to bring our products to market quickly and cost-effectively,” Narveson says.
Design for manufacturability
The implementation of SolidWorks software has made a substantial impact on CSI’s ability to accelerate development and control manufacturing costs. Using SolidWorks design for manufacturability tools—including DFMXpress, TolAnalyst™, and moldability analysis— the company cut its development time by 25 percent and the cost of manufacturing by 20 percent.
“SolidWorks not only allows us to create an elegant design that performs its intended function, but also enables us to manufacture parts in a way that holds down costs,” Narveson stresses. “We rely on SolidWorks design for manufacturability tools—such as using TolAnalyst to automate tolerance stackups and draft and wall thickness analysis, which enabled us to work with our suppliers to create high-precision injection molds—to ensure that we can manufacture and assemble products efficiently.”
