Telescoping vascular interventional procedure catheter, catheter system, and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a telescopic vascular interventional surgery catheter, a catheter system and a use method. The catheter comprises two coaxial tubular members nested with each other; a proximal end of the outer tubular member is provided with a shape memory alloy spring; the shape memory alloy spring drives the inner tubular member to move telescopically in the outer tubular member under an ambient temperature field; a shape memory alloy wire and a wire are arranged in the inner tubular member from the proximal end to the distal end; the shape memory alloy wire drives the inner tubular member to deform under a segmented temperature control ambient temperature field; a surgery function bin is arranged at the distal end of the inner tubular member; and a magnetic sensor is arranged at the distal end of the inner tubular member close to the surgery function bin. The catheter has the characteristics of small volume, simple structure and easy control; the catheter can enable medical supplies to reach the lesion sites such as vascular ends and capillaries which are usually difficult to reach; and the deformation can be realized independently in segments, so that the catheter can be more effectively fitted to the bending degree of the human body blood vessels.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of intelligent medical device technology, and more specifically, to a retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter, catheter system, and method of use thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Endovascular catheters are one of the main instruments used in endovascular interventional techniques. Depending on their application, endovascular catheters can be classified into angiography catheters, drug delivery catheters, angioplasty catheters, and foreign body removal catheters, among others. All endovascular catheters share a common characteristic: they must come into contact with the bloodstream and travel along the winding vessels to reach the distal lesion site.

[0003] However, blood vessels in the human body vary in size and have winding paths. Most current catheters have a fixed shape and provide limited range of motion. Once lesions occur in capillaries, tortuous vessels, or diseased blood vessels, most existing catheters are ineffective.

[0004] Patent application number 201780068465.2 proposes a telescopic catheter that uses a push-type telescopic mechanism, allowing the catheter to extend, retract, and rotate via a handle or motor. However, this catheter lacks flexibility and cannot accurately conform to the shape of blood vessels. Surgeons or intelligent surgical systems using this catheter need to constantly adjust its posture, placing high demands on precision and timeliness.

[0005] Therefore, developing a retractable vascular interventional catheter that can adapt to the shape of blood vessels is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Due to the aforementioned deficiencies in the existing technology, the present invention provides a retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter, catheter system, and method of use thereof to solve the problem that the existing technology cannot adapt to the complex shape of blood vessels.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter, comprising two nested coaxial tubular components; each tubular component has a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage extending between the proximal and distal ends; the inner tubular component is movably fitted inside the outer tubular component; characterized in that the proximal end of the outer tubular component is provided with a shape memory alloy spring, which drives the inner tubular component to extend and retract within the outer tubular component under an ambient temperature field; a shape memory alloy wire and a lead wire are provided within the inner tubular component from the proximal end to the distal end, and the shape memory alloy wire drives the inner tubular component to deform under a segmented temperature-controlled ambient temperature field; a surgical function compartment is provided at the distal end of the inner tubular component, which carries medical supplies involved in the surgery according to actual surgical needs; a magnetic sensor is provided at the distal end of the inner tubular component near the surgical function compartment.

[0008] The catheter can be extended and retracted by a shape memory alloy spring, extending beyond the inner tubular component to enter smaller blood vessels. The shape memory alloy wire enables the flexibility of the inner tubular component, offering advantages such as small size, simple structure, and easy control. A functional compartment is located at the distal end of the inner tubular component to assist doctors in performing medical procedures.

[0009] Furthermore, the inner tubular component of the conduit has a diameter of 2.5–2.7 mm, the outer tubular component has a diameter of 3.2–3.5 mm, the shape memory alloy spring has a diameter of 1.8–2 mm, and the shape memory alloy wire has a diameter of 0.7–0.9 mm.

[0010] Furthermore, the outer walls of the two tubular components are coated with a hydrogel. This feature helps the catheter glide within tight blood vessels without getting stuck.

[0011] Furthermore, the conductor includes a heating conductor, a power supply line, and a communication line; the heating conductor is energized in segments, and the non-uniformity of its ambient temperature field is achieved by changing the voltage connected to each segment of the heating conductor; the shape memory alloy spring and the shape memory alloy wire undergo corresponding deformation when the ambient temperature changes due to the operation of the heating conductor; the power supply line supplies power to the surgical functional compartment; the communication line connects to a controller outside the catheter, receiving and feeding back control signals from the surgical functional compartment.

[0012] Furthermore, the shape memory alloy wire and the conductor are arranged along the central axis; a fixing plate is provided radially inside the inner tubular component; the fixing plate is connected to the inner wall of the inner tubular component and constrains the position of the shape memory alloy wire and the conductor.

[0013] Furthermore, the cross-sections of the heating wire, power line, and communication line are located at different positions on the same circumference centered on a point on the central axis.

[0014] Furthermore, the shape memory alloy spring and the shape memory alloy wire are both made of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy; the medical supplies carried by the surgical functional compartment include one or more of the following: a micro-endoscope, a micro-guidewire, a drug to be delivered, a micro-surgical clamp, and a micro-balloon.

[0015] On the other hand, the present invention provides a retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter system, including the above-mentioned retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter, a medical magnetic field generator, a telescopic control module, and a shape control module; the telescopic control module includes a shape memory alloy spring temperature control circuit and a microcontroller; the shape control module includes a shape memory alloy wire temperature control circuit and a microcontroller; the microcontrollers of the telescopic control module and the shape control module can be integrated or discrete.

[0016] Furthermore, the retractable vascular interventional catheter system also includes a movable sealing mechanism at the connection between the inner tubular component and the outer tubular component.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of using the above-mentioned retractable vascular interventional catheter system, comprising the following steps:

[0018] Step S1: Before the operation, the doctor uses an external angiography device to model the location of the patient's blood vessels;

[0019] Step S2: During the procedure, the doctor uses a magnetic field generator and a magnetic sensor inside the catheter, combined with preoperative patient modeling, to locate the distal end of the catheter. Intraoperative extracorporeal angiography is used to analyze the thickness, bifurcation, and curvature of the blood vessels surrounding the catheter. If the thickness of the blood vessels changes, a command is sent to the microprocessor to adjust the shape memory alloy spring control circuit, allowing the catheter to extend and retract, enabling the inner tubular component to enter a thinner blood vessel. If the catheter reaches a bifurcation or curvature of a blood vessel, the doctor adjusts the shape memory alloy wire control circuit to change the shape of a specific segment of the inner tubular component, allowing the catheter to continue along the predetermined route to the lesion.

[0020] Step S3: When the catheter reaches the surgical position, the doctor can implement precise treatment for the patient by controlling the medical supplies loaded in the surgical chamber.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the above invention has the following advantages or beneficial effects:

[0022] 1. Using embedded shape memory alloy wire and shape memory alloy spring as deformation drive has the advantages of small size, simple structure and easy control;

[0023] 2. It enables the medical supplies loaded on the catheter to reach lesions in areas that are usually difficult to access, such as the ends of blood vessels and capillaries, which can effectively improve the surgical outcome;

[0024] 3. It can achieve segmented and independent deformation, more effectively conforming to the curvature of human blood vessels, improving surgical safety and accuracy. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The invention, its features, shape, and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the drawings. The drawings are not drawn to scale; their focus is on illustrating the gist of the invention.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the catheter in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the catheter deformation structure in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is an axial cross-sectional view of the interior of the outer tubular component in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 3 AA radial section view;

[0030] Figure 5 for Figure 3 BB radial section view;

[0031] Among them, 1. Inner tubular component; 2. Outer tubular component; 3. Surgical functional compartment; 4. Magnetic sensor; 11. Shape memory alloy wire; 12. Wire; 13. Fixing plate; 21. Shape memory alloy spring; 121. Heating wire; 122. Power cord; 123. Communication line. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The structure of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but this is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0033] Example 1

[0034] See Figure 1A retractable vascular interventional catheter includes two nested coaxial tubular components; each tubular component has a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage extending between the proximal and distal ends; the inner tubular component 1 is movably fitted inside the outer tubular component; a shape memory alloy spring 21 is provided at the proximal end of the outer tubular component 2, and the shape memory alloy spring 21 drives the inner tubular component 1 to extend and retract within the outer tubular component 2 under an ambient temperature field; a shape memory alloy wire 11 and a lead wire 12 are provided inside the inner tubular component 1 from the proximal end to the distal end (see...). Figure 3 The shape memory alloy wire 11 drives the inner tubular component 1 to deform under a segmented temperature-controlled ambient temperature field. A surgical function compartment 3 is located at the distal end of the inner tubular component 1, and the surgical function compartment 3 carries medical supplies involved in the surgery according to actual surgical needs. A magnetic sensor 4 is located at the distal end of the inner tubular component near the surgical function compartment. (See also...) Figure 2 The conduit can undergo flexible deformation under the drive of the ambient temperature field.

[0035] The inner tubular component 1 of the catheter has a diameter of 2.5–2.7 mm, the outer tubular component 2 has a diameter of 3.2–3.5 mm, the shape memory alloy spring 21 has a diameter of 1.8–2 mm, and the shape memory alloy wire 11 has a diameter of 0.7–0.9 mm. In a preferred embodiment, the outer tubular component 2 has a diameter of 3.5 mm, the inner tubular component 1 has a diameter of 2.7 mm, the shape memory alloy wire 11 has a diameter of 0.8 mm, and the shape memory alloy spring 21 has a diameter of 1.9 mm.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the outer walls of the two-layer tubular structure are coated with a hydrogel. This feature helps the catheter glide through tight blood vessels without getting stuck.

[0037] See Figure 3 The shape memory alloy wire 11 and the conductor 12 are arranged along the central axis; a fixing plate 13 is provided radially inside the inner tubular component 1; the fixing plate 13 is connected to the inner wall of the inner tubular component 1, has a hollow center, passes through the shape memory alloy wire 11, and constrains the position of the shape memory alloy wire 11; the fixing plate has a hole in the extension channel of the conductor 12. The deformation of the inner tubular component 1 caused by the shape memory alloy wire 11 can be transmitted through the fixing plate 13.

[0038] See Figure 4 and Figure 5In this embodiment, the conductor 12 includes a heating conductor 121, a power line 122, and a communication line 123. The cross-sections of the heating conductor 121, the power line 122, and the communication line 123 are located at different positions on the same circumference centered on a point on the central axis. The fixing plate 13 is cross-shaped, and the heating conductor 121, the power line 122, and the communication line 123 pass through one of the gaps between the fixing plate 13 and the inner tubular component 1. The heating conductor 121 is energized in segments, and the non-uniformity of its ambient temperature field is achieved by changing the voltage of each segment of the heating conductor 121. The shape memory alloy spring 21 and the shape memory alloy wire 11 deform accordingly when the ambient temperature changes due to the operation of the heating conductor 121. The power line 122 supplies power to the surgical functional compartment 3. The communication line 123 connects to the controller outside the catheter, receiving and feeding back control signals from the surgical functional compartment 3. The magnetic sensor 4 is disposed at the distal end of the inner tubular component near the surgical functional compartment, preferably fixed to the fixing plate 13.

[0039] Both the shape memory alloy spring 21 and the shape memory alloy wire 11 are made of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy; it is understood that other shape memory alloy materials with temperature response characteristics may also be used. The number of surgical functional compartments 3 can be set according to medical needs, and the medical supplies they carry include one or more of the following: miniature endoscopes, miniature guidewires, drugs to be delivered, miniature surgical clamps, and miniature balloons.

[0040] A retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter system includes the aforementioned retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter, a medical magnetic field generator, a telescopic control module, and a shape control module. The telescopic control module includes a shape memory alloy spring temperature control circuit and a microcontroller. The shape control module includes a shape memory alloy wire temperature control circuit and a microcontroller. The microcontrollers of the telescopic control module and the shape control module can be integrated or discrete. As a preferred embodiment, the microcontrollers of the telescopic control module and the shape control module are integrated.

[0041] One method of using the aforementioned retractable vascular interventional catheter system includes the following steps:

[0042] Step S1: Before the operation, the doctor uses an external angiography device to model the location of the patient's blood vessels;

[0043] Step S2: During the procedure, the doctor uses a magnetic field generator and a magnetic sensor inside the catheter, combined with preoperative patient modeling, to locate the distal end of the catheter. Intraoperative extracorporeal angiography is used to analyze the thickness, bifurcation, and curvature of the blood vessels surrounding the catheter. If the thickness of the blood vessels changes, a command is sent to the microprocessor to adjust the shape memory alloy spring control circuit, allowing the catheter to extend and retract, enabling the inner tubular component to enter a thinner blood vessel. If the catheter reaches a bifurcation or curvature of a blood vessel, the doctor adjusts the shape memory alloy wire control circuit to change the shape of a specific segment of the inner tubular component, allowing the catheter to continue along the predetermined route to the lesion.

[0044] Step S3: When the catheter reaches the surgical position, the doctor can implement precise treatment for the patient by controlling the medical supplies loaded in the surgical chamber.

[0045] Example 2

[0046] A retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter and its catheter system are similar in structure and implementation method to Embodiment 1. The difference is that the outer tubular component 2 has a diameter of 3.2 mm, the inner tubular component 1 has a diameter of 2.5 mm, the shape memory alloy wire 11 has a diameter of 0.7 mm, and the shape memory alloy spring 21 has a diameter of 1.8 mm. The microcontrollers for the telescopic control module and the shape control module are separate. The retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter system also includes a movable sealing mechanism at the connection between the inner and outer tubular components.

[0047] Example 3

[0048] A retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter and its catheter system are similar in structure and implementation method to Embodiment 1. The difference from Embodiment 1 is that the diameter of the outer tubular component 2 is 3.5 mm, the diameter of the inner tubular component 1 can be 2.7 mm, the diameter of the shape memory alloy wire 11 is 0.9 mm, and the diameter of the shape memory alloy spring 21 is 2 mm.

[0049] In summary, this invention provides a retractable vascular interventional surgical catheter, catheter system, and method of use. The catheter comprises two nested coaxial tubular components; a shape memory alloy spring is located at the proximal end of the outer tubular component, which drives the inner tubular component to extend and retract within the outer tubular component under ambient temperature conditions; a shape memory alloy wire and a lead wire are located within the inner tubular component from proximal to distal end, and the shape memory alloy wire drives the inner tubular component to deform under segmented temperature control; a surgical function compartment is located at the distal end of the inner tubular component; a magnetic sensor is located at the distal end of the inner tubular component near the surgical function compartment. The catheter of this invention is characterized by its small size, simple structure, and easy control; this invention allows medical devices to reach lesions in areas that are normally difficult to access, such as distal blood vessels and capillaries; it can achieve segmented and independent deformation, more effectively conforming to the curvature of human blood vessels.

[0050] Those skilled in the art should understand that variations can be implemented by combining existing technology with the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated here. Such variations do not affect the essence of the present invention, and will not be elaborated here either.

[0051] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the devices and structures not described in detail should be understood as being implemented in a conventional manner in the art. Any person skilled in the art can make many possible variations and modifications to the technical solutions of the present invention using the methods and techniques disclosed above, or modify them into equivalent embodiments with equivalent changes, without departing from the scope of the present invention. This does not affect the essential content of the present invention. Therefore, any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the present invention's technical solutions still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A telescopic vascular intervention catheter, comprising two coaxial tubular members nested inside each other; the tubular members have proximal ends, distal ends, and passages extending between the proximal ends and the distal ends; the inner tubular member is movably sleeved inside the outer tubular member; characterized in that, the proximal end of the outer tubular member is provided with a shape memory alloy spring, which drives the inner tubular member to move telescopically in the outer tubular member under ambient temperature field; the inner tubular member is provided with a shape memory alloy wire and a wire from the proximal end to the distal end, the shape memory alloy wire drives the inner tubular member to deform under ambient temperature field controlled by sections; the distal end of the inner tubular member is provided with a surgical function compartment, which is loaded with medical supplies involved in the actual surgery according to actual surgical needs; the distal end of the inner tubular member close to the surgical function compartment is provided with a magnetic sensor. The shape memory alloy wire and the wire are arranged along the central axis; the inner tubular member is provided with a fixed sheet in the radial direction; the fixed sheet circumscribes the inner wall of the inner tubular member and constrains the position of the shape memory alloy wire and the wire. The wire includes an electric heating wire, a power line and a communication line; the cross sections of the electric heating wire, the power line and the communication line are located at different positions on the same circumference with a point on the central axis as the center. The fixed sheet is cross-shaped, and the electric heating wire, the power line and the communication line pass through the fixed sheet and one of the gaps around the inner tubular member respectively. The diameter of the inner tubular member of the catheter is 2.5-2.7 mm, the diameter of the outer tubular member is 3.2-3.5 mm, the diameter of the shape memory alloy spring is 1.8-2 mm, and the diameter of the shape memory alloy wire is 0.7-0.9 mm.

2. The telescopic vascular intervention catheter of claim 1, wherein, The outer walls of the two tubular members are provided with a hydrogel coating.

3. The telescopic vascular intervention catheter of claim 1, wherein, The electric heating wire is connected in sections, and the non-uniformity of the ambient temperature field of each section of the electric heating wire is achieved by changing the input voltage; the shape memory alloy spring and the shape memory alloy wire deform correspondingly when the ambient temperature changes due to the operation of the electric heating wire; the power line supplies power to the surgical function compartment; the communication line is connected to the controller outside the catheter to receive and feedback the control signal of the surgical function compartment.

4. The telescopic vascular intervention catheter of claim 1, wherein, The materials of the shape memory alloy spring and the shape memory alloy wire are both Ni-Ti shape memory alloy; the medical supplies loaded in the surgical function compartment include one or more of a miniature endoscope, a micro guide wire, a drug to be delivered, a micro surgical clamp, and a micro balloon.

5. A telescopic vascular intervention catheter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The telescopic vascular intervention catheter, a medical magnetic field generator, a telescopic control module, and a shape control module are included; the telescopic control module includes a shape memory alloy spring temperature control circuit and a microcontroller; the shape control module includes a shape memory alloy wire temperature control circuit and a microcontroller; the microcontrollers of the telescopic control module and the shape control module can be integrated or discrete.

6. A scalable vascular interventional procedure catheter system, characterized by, The connection part of the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member is also provided with a movable sealing mechanism.

7. The scalable vascular interventional procedure catheter system of claim 6, wherein, ​

Images