Plaque treatment device
By designing the catheter and contents recovery mechanism of the plaque treatment device, the problem of low efficiency of drug treatment for vulnerable plaques is solved, achieving rapid and thorough plaque destruction and contents recovery, thus avoiding the shortcomings of drug treatment.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHANGHAI MICROPORT MEDICAL (GROUP) CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-14
AI Technical Summary
Existing treatments for vulnerable plaques mainly rely on medication, which suffer from slow onset of action, long treatment cycles, and unreliable efficacy.
Design a plaque treatment device including a catheter, a plaque destruction mechanism and a content recovery mechanism. The plaque destruction mechanism can switch between an execution state and a storage state, piercing the wall of the target plaque with a sharp point, and recovering the plaque contents through the content recovery mechanism.
It achieves rapid and precise destruction of the capsule of vulnerable plaques, preventing the contents of the plaque from causing harm through blood circulation, and provides a rapid and thorough mechanical treatment method.
Smart Images
Figure CN120616701B_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application number 202211475541.0, entitled "Plaque Treatment Device". Technical Field
[0002] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a plaque treatment device. Background Technology
[0003] Vulnerable plaques, also known as unstable plaques, soft plaques, or high-risk plaques, refer to unstable, high-risk atherosclerotic plaques that are prone to rapid thrombosis. These plaques are characterized by a thin fibrous cap and a large lipid core, making them highly susceptible to rupture and instability. They are prone to causing acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. For example, some patients may not have severe stenosis (less than 50%), but because they are vulnerable plaques, they are at risk of acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events such as myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, and acute cerebral infarction at any time. Clinically, 75% of acute myocardial infarctions are caused by the rupture of vulnerable plaques, severely impacting people's quality of life.
[0004] The primary treatment for vulnerable plaques is currently medication, with statins being the most common approach for intensive lipid-lowering. Other medications, such as anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, reduce local arterial inflammation and inhibit thrombus formation after plaque rupture; GP IIb / IIIa antagonists and heparin (UFH) improve perfusion and reduce embolism; and calcium channel blockers slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis, all play a role in treating vulnerable plaques. However, these medications all suffer from slow onset of action, long treatment cycles, and unreliable efficacy. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a plaque treatment device to address the problem that existing vulnerable plaques are mainly treated with drugs.
[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a plaque treatment device, comprising: a catheter, a plaque destruction mechanism, and a contents recovery mechanism; the plaque destruction mechanism is configured to switch between an execution state and a first storage state;
[0007] The plaque destruction mechanism in the first storage state is loaded onto the conduit and moves with the conduit; the plaque destruction mechanism in the execution state is used to destroy the wall of the target plaque, and the contents recovery mechanism is used to recover the contents of the target plaque.
[0008] Optionally, the plaque treatment device further includes a driving mechanism; the driving mechanism is used to drive the plaque destruction mechanism to switch between the execution state and the first storage state; the plaque destruction mechanism includes a sharp portion connected to the driving mechanism, and when the plaque destruction mechanism switches from the first storage state to the execution state, the sharp portion extends radially relative to the catheter to puncture the wall of the target plaque.
[0009] Optionally, the driving mechanism includes a slider and a connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod being connected to the slider and the other end of the connecting rod being connected to the plaque destruction mechanism; the slider is used to move along the axial direction of the conduit to drive the plaque destruction mechanism to switch between the execution state and the first storage state via the connecting rod.
[0010] Optionally, the driving mechanism includes a slider receiving cavity and a driving fluid channel disposed along the axial direction of the conduit. The radial outer contour shape of the slider is adapted to the radial inner contour shape of the slider receiving cavity. The slider is movably disposed within the slider receiving cavity along the axial direction. The driving fluid channel communicates with the slider receiving cavity and is used to inject driving fluid into the slider receiving cavity or to draw driving fluid from the slider receiving cavity to drive the slider to move along the axial direction.
[0011] Optionally, the driving mechanism includes a threaded drive member disposed along the axial direction of the conduit, the slider being threadedly connected to the threaded drive member, the threaded drive member being used to rotate to drive the slider to move axially.
[0012] Optionally, the drive mechanism includes two sliders arranged axially spaced apart and at least two links; each slider is connected to at least one of the links; the two sliders are configured to move synchronously in opposite directions.
[0013] Optionally, the plaque-breaking mechanism includes an extension base disposed outside the conduit, the extension base extending axially along the conduit, the sharp portion disposed on the extension base, the extension base being connected to the other end of the connecting rod, and the extension base being used to move radially under the drive of the connecting rod; wherein, when the plaque-breaking mechanism is in the first retracted state, the extension base is against the outer wall of the conduit; when the plaque-breaking mechanism is in the actuated state, the extension base moves radially away from the conduit and is used to squeeze the wall of the target plaque.
[0014] Optionally, the plaque treatment device further includes a driving mechanism; the driving mechanism is used to drive the plaque destruction mechanism to switch between the execution state and the first storage state; the driving mechanism includes a driving wire and a guide, the driving wire being connected to the pointed portion; the guide is used to guide and change the extension direction of the driving wire; wherein, when the plaque destruction mechanism is in the first storage state, the pointed portion does not extend beyond the outermost of the guide and the conduit; when the plaque destruction mechanism switches from the first storage state to the execution state, the pointed portion extends from the guide and the conduit in a direction at an angle to the axial direction of the conduit under the drive of the driving wire, for piercing the wall of the target plaque.
[0015] Optionally, the guide includes an arc-shaped guide segment, the proximal end of which extends tangentially along the axial direction of the catheter, and the distal end of which extends tangentially at an angle to the axial direction of the catheter and penetrates the outer wall of the catheter; the guide segment is used for the drive wire to be movably inserted and for guiding and changing the extension direction of the drive wire.
[0016] Optionally, the contents recycling mechanism includes a blocking element that has selective permeability, allowing a permeable size not greater than the size of a portion of the contents; the blocking element is configured to switch between a blocked state and a second storage state.
[0017] When the blocking component is in the blocked state, it is used to block the downstream side of the target patch in order to collect the contents that are larger than the permissible permeability size;
[0018] When the plug is in the second retracted state, it is loaded into the conduit and used to move with the conduit;
[0019] During the process of the blocking component transitioning from the blocking state to the second storage state, the collected contents are prevented from leaving the blocking component.
[0020] Optionally, the plaque destruction mechanism includes a sharp portion, and the contents recovery mechanism includes a recovery hole extending through the sharp portion along its axial direction, and a recovery channel extending along the axial direction of the conduit, wherein the recovery hole communicates with the recovery channel; the recovery channel and the recovery hole are used for suctioning out the contents of the target plaque.
[0021] Optionally, the content recovery mechanism further includes a plurality of side holes, which are radially formed on the sidewall of the pointed portion and communicate with the recovery hole; the side holes allow the contents of the target plaque to pass through.
[0022] Optionally, the catheter is a multi-lumen tube.
[0023] In summary, the plaque treatment device provided by the present invention includes a catheter, a plaque destruction mechanism, and a content recovery mechanism; the plaque destruction mechanism is configured to switch between an execution state and a first storage state; wherein, in the first storage state, the plaque destruction mechanism is loaded onto the catheter and is used to move with the catheter; in the execution state, the plaque destruction mechanism is used to destroy the wall of the target plaque, and the content recovery mechanism is used to recover the contents of the target plaque.
[0024] With this configuration, the plaque destruction mechanism can physically break down the capsule of the target plaque, allowing the plaque contents to be recovered by the contents recovery mechanism without causing harm through blood circulation. This is a mechanical treatment method for vulnerable plaques, with the advantage of quickly addressing the root cause, achieving precise treatment, and ultimately providing rapid and thorough treatment for vulnerable plaques. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Those skilled in the art will understand that the accompanying drawings are provided to better understand the invention and do not constitute any limitation on the scope of the invention. Wherein:
[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a plaque treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred example of the plaque destruction mechanism and the contents recovery mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of the plaque destruction mechanism shown;
[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-section of the catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred example of the driving mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another preferred example of the drive mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred example of the sharp portion of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] Figure 8 yes Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the sharp part of the device piercing the target plaque;
[0034] Figure 9This is a schematic diagram of another preferred example of the plaque destruction mechanism and the contents recovery mechanism of this invention.
[0035] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the sharp part of the device piercing the target plaque.
[0036] In the attached image:
[0037] 1-Catheter; 2-Plaque destruction mechanism; 21-Sharp tip; 22-Extended matrix; 3-Content retrieval mechanism; 31-Retrieval orifice; 32-Retrieval channel; 33-Branch orifice; 34-Occlusion element; 4-Target plaque; 41-Wall covering; 42-Vascular vessel; 5-Drive mechanism; 51-Slider; 52-Connecting rod; 53-Slider receiving cavity; 54-Drive fluid channel; 55-Occlusion block; 56-Threaded drive element; 57-Guide element; 571-Extension segment; 572-Guide segment. Detailed Implementation
[0038] To make the objectives, advantages, and features of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the drawings are all in a very simplified form and are not drawn to scale, and are only used to facilitate and clarify the explanation of the embodiments of this invention. Furthermore, the structures shown in the drawings are often part of the actual structures. In particular, different figures may emphasize different aspects and may sometimes use different scales.
[0039] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural objects; the term “or” is generally used to mean “and / or”; the term “a number” is generally used to mean “at least one”; and the term “at least two” is generally used to mean “two or more”. Furthermore, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as “first,” “second,” or “third” may explicitly or implicitly include one or at least two of that feature; “one end” and “the other end,” and “proximal end” and “distal end” generally refer to two corresponding parts, which include not only endpoints. The terms “proximal end” and “distal end” are defined herein with respect to a plaque treatment device having an end for intervention in the human body and a control end extending outside the body. The term "proximal" refers to the position of the element closer to the external control end of the plaque treatment device, and the term "distal" refers to the position of the element closer to the end of the plaque treatment device that is inserted into the human body and therefore further away from the control end of the plaque treatment device. Optionally, in manual or hand-operated applications, the terms "proximal" and "distal" are defined herein relative to the operator, such as a surgeon or clinician. The term "proximal" refers to the position of the element closer to the operator, and the term "distal" refers to the position of the element closer to the plaque treatment device and therefore further away from the operator. Furthermore, as used in this invention, "mounted," "connected," "attached," and "set" of one element on another should be interpreted broadly, generally indicating only a connection, coupling, engagement, or transmission relationship between the two elements, which can be direct or indirect through an intermediate element, and should not be construed as indicating or implying a spatial positional relationship between the two elements, i.e., one element can be located inside, outside, above, below, or to one side of the other element, unless otherwise expressly stated. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances. Furthermore, directional terms such as above, below, up, down, upward, downward, left, right, etc., are used relative to exemplary embodiments as shown in the figures, with upward or up direction pointing towards the top of the corresponding figure, and downward or down direction pointing towards the bottom of the corresponding figure.
[0040] The purpose of this invention is to provide a plaque treatment device to address the problem that existing vulnerable plaques are mainly treated with drugs.
[0041] The following description refers to the accompanying drawings.
[0042] Please refer to Figures 1 to 8This invention provides a plaque treatment device, comprising: a catheter 1, a plaque destruction mechanism 2, and a content recovery mechanism 3; the plaque destruction mechanism 2 is configured to switch between an execution state and a first storage state; wherein, in the first storage state, the plaque destruction mechanism 2 is mounted on the catheter 1 and is used to move with the catheter 1; in the execution state, the plaque destruction mechanism 2 is used to destroy the wall 41 of a target plaque 4, and the content recovery mechanism 3 is used to recover the contents of the target plaque 41. It should be noted that the target plaque 4 may be a vulnerable plaque on a patient's blood vessel, or a plaque prosthesis on a vascular model, which can be used for operator training or surgical verification, etc. This invention does not limit the specific content of the target plaque 4.
[0043] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 Taking a target plaque 4 formed on the sidewall of blood vessel 42 as an example, the target plaque 4 contains some generally solid contents (such as a lipid core) and some liquid. The inner side of the target plaque 4 facing the blood vessel 42 is its casing wall 41. Understandably, after the plaque destruction mechanism 2 destroys the casing wall 41 of the target plaque 4, the contents of the target plaque 4 will flow into the blood vessel 42. The contents will flow with the blood to the narrowed area, causing blockage and potentially triggering an acute cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event. The contents recovery mechanism 3 can recover the contents flowing out of the target plaque 41. With this configuration, the plaque destruction mechanism 3 can physically destroy the casing wall 41 of the target plaque 4, allowing the contents of the target plaque 4 to be recovered by the contents recovery mechanism 3, preventing them from causing harm through blood circulation. This is a mechanical treatment method for vulnerable plaques, with the advantage of quickly addressing the root cause, achieving precise treatment, and realizing the goal of rapid and thorough treatment of vulnerable plaques.
[0044] Furthermore, the plaque destruction mechanism 2 has an execution state and a first retracted state, and is configured to switch between the execution state and the first retracted state. The plaque treatment device provided in this embodiment is primarily used for intervention through a blood vessel 42 (or a blood vessel model), advancing along the blood vessel to the target plaque 4. During the intervention, the plaque destruction mechanism 2 is mainly in the first retracted state, allowing it to move smoothly along the blood vessel 42 with the catheter 1, minimizing or avoiding damage to the blood vessel wall during movement. It should be noted that the plaque destruction mechanism 2 in the first retracted state can be loaded onto the catheter 1 in various ways. For example… Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated example, the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 is radially retractable and disposed outside the conduit 1. In this case, the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 is mounted on the conduit 1 in a radially retractable manner, until it rests against the outer peripheral wall of the conduit 1. In other embodiments, for example... Figure 9 In the illustrated example, the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 is mounted on the catheter 1 in a manner that allows it to retract inside the catheter 1. Based on the above description, the present invention does not impose any particular limitation on the manner in which the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 is mounted on the catheter 1. However, it should be ensured that when the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 is mounted on the catheter 1, it does not affect the forward and backward movement of the catheter 1 along the blood vessel 42. When in the activated state, the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 can extend beyond the catheter 1, thereby enabling it to puncture the sheath 41. In some embodiments, when the target plaque 4 is located on the sidewall of a generally straight section of the blood vessel 42, the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 in the activated state can extend radially relative to the catheter 1. In other embodiments, when the target plaque 4 is located at a bend in the blood vessel 42, the activated state of the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 can also be that the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 extends axially relative to the catheter 1. Those skilled in the art can understand and improve upon this based on existing technology.
[0045] Preferably, the plaque treatment device further includes a driving mechanism 5; the driving mechanism 5 is used to drive the plaque destruction mechanism 2 to switch between the execution state and the first storage state; the plaque destruction mechanism 2 includes a sharp portion 21 connected to the driving mechanism 5, and when the plaque destruction mechanism 2 switches from the first storage state to the execution state, the sharp portion 21 extends radially relative to the conduit 1 to puncture the wall 41 of the target plaque 4. In some embodiments, the transition between the execution state and the first storage state of the plaque destruction mechanism 2 can be achieved spontaneously without a driving mechanism. For example, if the plaque destruction mechanism 2 includes a self-expanding mesh stent, it can spontaneously expand when the mesh stent extends from the distal end of the conduit 1, thereby achieving the transition from the first storage state to the execution state. However, it is preferable to drive the plaque destruction mechanism 2 to switch between the execution state and the first storage state through an additional driving mechanism 5, which can reliably achieve the state transition of the plaque destruction mechanism 2 and improve the operational accuracy of the plaque destruction mechanism 2.
[0046] like Figure 2 As shown, optionally, the driving mechanism 5 includes a slider 51 and a connecting rod 52. One end of the connecting rod 52 is connected to the slider 51, and the other end of the connecting rod 52 is connected to the plaque destruction mechanism 2. The slider 51 is used to move along the axial direction of the conduit 1 to drive the plaque destruction mechanism 2 to switch between the execution state and the first storage state via the connecting rod 52.
[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the movement of the slider 51 can be achieved by injecting or drawing in a driving fluid (liquid or gas). Optionally, the driving mechanism 5 includes a slider receiving cavity 53 and a driving fluid channel 54 disposed along the axial direction of the conduit 1. The radial outer contour shape of the slider 51 is adapted to the radial inner contour shape of the slider receiving cavity 53, and the slider 51 is movably disposed within the slider receiving cavity 53 along the axial direction. The driving fluid channel 54 communicates with the slider receiving cavity 53 and is used to inject driving fluid into the slider receiving cavity 53 or to draw driving fluid from the slider receiving cavity 53 to drive the slider 51 to move axially.
[0048] Please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 Optionally, the conduit 1 is a multi-lumen tube with multiple lumens along the radial direction, and the slider receiving cavity 53 is one of these lumens. In one embodiment, a plug 55 is provided at the proximal end of the slider receiving cavity 53, and the slider 51 is movably disposed at the distal end of the slider receiving cavity 53. Preferably, the radial outer contour shape of the slider 51 and the radial inner contour shape of the slider receiving cavity 53 are both circular, and the outer diameter of the slider 51 matches the inner diameter of the slider receiving cavity 53. The slider 51 can slide while sealing against the slider receiving cavity 53, thereby defining the volume of the slider receiving cavity 53. With this configuration, when driving fluid is injected into the slider receiving cavity 53 through the driving fluid channel 54, the slider 51 will be pushed towards the distal end. Figure 5 (The slider moves in the right direction). Conversely, when driving fluid is drawn from the slider receiving cavity 53 through the driving fluid channel 54, the slider 51 will be pushed towards the proximal end (the direction is to the right). Figure 5 (The direction is leftward). Optionally, the driving fluid channel 54 can also be formed inside the conduit 1, which is one of the cavities of the conduit 1. Preferably, the slider receiving cavity 53 and the driving fluid channel 54 are the same cavity, separated by a plug 55. The plug 55 has an axially penetrating through hole, and the slider receiving cavity 53 and the driving fluid channel 54 are connected through the through hole formed on the plug 55. The proximal end of the driving fluid channel 54 extends out of the body along the conduit 1, and the operator can inject or aspirate the driving fluid through the proximal end of the driving fluid channel 54. This configuration is beneficial to reducing the radial dimension of the conduit 1 and improving the permeability. Of course, in some other embodiments, the driving fluid channel 54 can also be another cavity of the conduit 1 different from the slider receiving cavity 53, or an auxiliary cavity attached to the outside of the conduit 1. The present invention is not limited to this.
[0049] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 includes an extension base 22 disposed outside the conduit 1, the extension base 22 extending axially along the conduit 1, the sharp portion 21 disposed on the extension base 22, the extension base 22 being connected to the other end of the connecting rod 52, and the extension base 22 being used to move radially under the drive of the connecting rod 52; wherein, when the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 is in the first retracted state, the extension base 22 abuts against the outer wall of the conduit 1; when the plaque-breaking mechanism 22 is in the actuated state, the extension base 22 moves radially away from the conduit 1 and is used to compress the wall 41 of the target plaque 4. Optionally, both ends of the connecting rod 52 are hinged to the extension base 22 and the slider 51, respectively. Optionally, the end of the connecting rod 52 connected to the slider 5 is located inside the conduit 1, and the end connected to the expansion base 22 is located outside the conduit 1. Therefore, the connecting rod 52 needs to pass through the conduit 1. For this purpose, a through groove can be opened in the conduit 1 corresponding to the position of the connecting rod 52 to facilitate the passage of the connecting rod 52. In this way, the axial sliding of the slider 51 is converted into the radial movement of the expansion base 22, thereby driving the sharp part 21 to move radially and pierce the wall 41.
[0050] Preferably, the plaque destruction mechanism 2 includes at least two expansion bases 22, which are evenly distributed circumferentially around the axis of the slider receiving cavity 53. Each expansion base 22 is connected to the slider 51 via a corresponding connecting rod 52. With this configuration, when the slider 51 moves axially, the at least two expansion bases 22 can expand uniformly in different directions. It should be noted that when the plaque destruction mechanism 2 includes at least two expansion bases 22, only one expansion base 22 is provided with a sharp portion 21. The other expansion bases 22 are only used for expansion and abut against the inner wall of the blood vessel 42, providing a reaction force to the expansion base 22 with the sharp portion 21, so that the expansion base 22 with the sharp portion 21 can squeeze the target plaque 4 and squeeze out as much of the contents of the target plaque 4 as possible. Figure 5 In the illustrated example, the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 includes two extended substrates 22 symmetrically distributed about the axis of the slider receiving cavity 53. In other embodiments, the extended substrates 22 may also be annular meshes connected to the slider 51 via multiple connecting rods 52. Thus, when the slider 51 moves axially, it can drive the extended substrates 22 to expand or contract radially and uniformly. Optionally, the extended substrates 22 may be, for example, extended arms or extended plates, the number, size, cross-sectional shape, circumferential extension area, and distribution of which depend on the engineering implementation and the compression area of the target plaque 4. The extended substrates 22 are preferably made of biocompatible materials such as stainless steel, titanium alloy, or organic polymers, and should possess sufficient strength to achieve compression of the target plaque 4.
[0051] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 3In another optional embodiment, the drive mechanism 5 includes two axially spaced sliders 51 and at least two connecting rods 52; each slider 51 is connected to at least one connecting rod 52; the two sliders 51 are configured to move synchronously in opposite directions. The proximal end of the slider receiving cavity 53 also utilizes another slider 51 instead of the fixedly disposed block 55, thus defining the space enclosed between the two sliders 51 to form the slider receiving cavity 53. Thus, when drive fluid is injected or drawn into the slider receiving cavity 53 through the drive fluid channel 54, the two sliders 51 will move synchronously in opposite directions. Furthermore, the two sliders 51 are connected to the expansion base 22 via their respective connecting rods 52, so that the two synchronously moving opposite sliders 51 can simultaneously drive the two axial ends of the expansion base 22 to move radially together, thereby allowing the expansion base 22 to move relatively smoothly radially, for example, along an axial direction perpendicular to the slider receiving cavity 53. Optionally, the slider 51 located at the proximal end has an axially through hole, and the slider receiving cavity 53 is connected to the driving fluid channel 54 through the through hole opened on the slider 51.
[0052] Please refer to Figure 6 In another preferred embodiment, the movement of the slider 51 can be achieved by a threaded mechanical drive. Optionally, the drive mechanism 5 includes a threaded drive member 56 disposed along the axial direction of the conduit 1, the slider 51 being threadedly connected to the threaded drive member 56, the threaded drive member 56 being used for rotation to drive the slider 51 to move axially. In one embodiment, the threaded drive member 56 is a lead screw with external threads, and the slider 51 has an internal thread adapted to the external thread of the lead screw, so that when the threaded drive member 56 rotates, it can drive the slider 51 to move axially. In another embodiment, the threaded drive member 56 can also be a sleeve with internal threads, and the slider 51 has an external thread matching the internal thread of the sleeve, so that the slider 51 can also be driven to move axially by rotating the threaded drive member 56. Furthermore, the drive mechanism 5 may also include two sliders 51 arranged axially spaced apart. These two sliders 51 are simultaneously threadedly connected to the threaded drive member 56, and the threads of the two sliders 51 have opposite directions of rotation. Correspondingly, the threaded drive member 56 has two sections of threads with opposite directions of rotation to match the threads of the two sliders 51. With this configuration, when the threaded drive member 56 rotates, it can synchronously drive the two sliders 51 to move synchronously in opposite directions.
[0053] Optional, please refer to Figure 3In a preferred embodiment, the content recovery mechanism 3 includes a recovery hole 31 extending axially through the tip 21 on the tip 21, and a recovery channel 32 extending axially along the conduit 1. The recovery hole 31 communicates with the recovery channel 32. The recovery channel 32 and the recovery hole 31 are used to aspirate the contents of the target plaque 4. In this preferred embodiment, the tip 21 is generally a hollow needle with one sharp end, capable of piercing the wall 41 of the target plaque 4 and entering the interior of the target plaque 4. Preferably, the expansion base 22 with the tip 21 is a hollow component with an inner cavity. The distal end of the inner cavity is closed, and the proximal end of the inner cavity communicates with a cavity of the conduit 1 through a connecting tube. The recovery hole 31 communicates with the inner cavity of the expansion base 22. Thus, the inner cavity of the expansion base 22, the connecting tube, and the cavity of the conduit 1, connected sequentially from the distal end to the proximal end, together constitute the recovery channel 32. The proximal end of the recovery channel 32 extends outside the body, allowing the operator to recover the contents contained within the target plaque 4 through the recovery channel 32 and the recovery orifice 31. This can be achieved by suction or by squeezing the target plaque 4 with the extended substrate 22 to expel the contents. Understandably, the inner diameter of the recovery channel 32 and the recovery orifice 31 should be larger than the size of the contents to ensure smooth discharge.
[0054] Please refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 Furthermore, the content recovery mechanism 3 also includes a plurality of side holes 33, wherein the side holes 32 are formed radially along the sharp portion 21 on the side wall of the sharp portion 21 and communicate with the recovery hole 31; the side holes 33 allow the contents of the target patch 4 to pass through. (Refer to reference) Figure 3The entire recovery process of the contents of the target plaque 4 by the contents recovery mechanism 3 is examined. The tip 21 first pierces the capillary wall 41 and enters the target plaque 4. At this stage, the contents of the target plaque 4 can enter the recovery channel 32 through the recovery hole 31 of the tip 21. Then, the expanding base 22 moves outward and abuts against the capillary wall 41, compressing the target plaque 4. At this stage, the contents of the target plaque 4 can still enter the recovery channel 32 through the recovery hole 31 of the tip 21. Further, in order to remove as much of the contents of the target plaque 4 as possible, the expanding base 22 continues to move outward and compress the target plaque 4. At this stage, the tip of the tip 21 may have pierced the entire target plaque 4 and penetrated the blood vessel wall, or even penetrated the blood vessel wall and reached the extravascular tissue. At this stage, the distal end of the recovery hole 31 extends beyond the target plaque 4 and cannot allow contents to pass through. The side branch hole 33 provides another pathway for the contents to enter the recovery hole 31. When the target plaque 4 is further compressed by the expanding substrate 22, the contents of the target plaque 4 can enter the recovery hole 31 through the side branch hole 33. Understandably, since the side branch hole 33 allows the contents to pass through, its inner diameter should be larger than the size of the contents.
[0055] Furthermore, to avoid excessive damage to the blood vessel 42, the outer diameter of the tip 21 should be set as small as possible, for example, the inner diameter of the recovery hole 31 should be slightly larger than the maximum possible size of the contents. To accelerate the discharge of contents, the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 includes two or more tips 21. Increasing the number of tips 21 can reduce the negative impact of the size of the tips 21 on effectiveness. In one embodiment, two or more tips 21 are arranged on the same extended base 22.
[0056] Please refer to Figure 9 and Figure 10In another preferred embodiment, the driving mechanism 5 includes a driving wire (not shown) and a guide 57, the driving wire being connected to the pointed portion 21; the guide 57 is used to guide and change the extension direction of the driving wire to allow the driving wire to drive the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 to switch between the execution state and the first retracted state; wherein, when the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 is in the first retracted state, the pointed portion 21 does not extend beyond the outermost of the guide 57 and the conduit 1; when the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 switches from the first retracted state to the execution state, the pointed portion 21 extends from the guide 57 and the conduit 1 in a direction angled to the axial direction of the conduit 1 under the drive of the driving wire, for piercing the wall 41 of the target plaque 4. Specifically, in some embodiments, the guide 57 may be entirely located inside the conduit 1, that is, of the guide 57 and the conduit 1, the conduit 1 is located further out, in which case the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 is in the first retracted state, meaning the pointed portion 21 does not extend beyond the conduit 1. Even if the pointed portion 21 protrudes from the guide member 57, it will be shielded and protected by the conduit 1 as long as it does not extend beyond the outer wall of the conduit 1. In other embodiments, the guide member 57 may partially protrude from the conduit 1; that is, of the guide member 57 and the conduit 1, the guide member 57 is the one located further out. In this case, even if the pointed portion 21 protrudes beyond the outer wall of the conduit 1, it is not a problem as long as it does not extend beyond the guide member 57.
[0057] like Figure 9 As shown, in one exemplary embodiment, the guide 57 is a tubular component comprising an extension segment 571 located within the catheter 1, which may be a lumen of the catheter 1. Further, the guide 57 includes an arcuate guide segment 572, the proximal end of which extends tangentially along the axial direction of the catheter 1, for example, connected to the extension segment 571. The distal end of the guide segment 572 extends tangentially at an angle to the axial direction of the catheter 1 and penetrates the outer wall of the catheter 1. The guide segment 572 is used for the movable passage of the drive wire and for guiding and changing the extension direction of the drive wire. Optionally, the proximal end of the drive wire passes through the extension segment 571 and extends outside the body, allowing the operator to maneuver the drive wire forward and backward. It is understood that the drive wire, movably passed through the guide 57, has its forward and backward movement restricted and guided by the guide 57. As the drive wire and its distal tip 21 move distally to the guide tube section 572, they gradually bend outwards. After passing through the guide tube section 572, the extension directions of the drive wire and tip 21 form an angle with the axial direction of the conduit 1, until they extend beyond the conduit 1. Further pushing the drive wire distally causes the tip 21 to extend beyond the guide tube section 572, at which point the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 switches to the execution state. It can be understood that when the tip 21 is not extended beyond the guide tube section 572, the plaque-breaking mechanism 2 can be considered to be in the first retracted state.
[0058] Compatible with Figure 9 and Figure 10 The plaque destruction mechanism 2 and the content recovery mechanism 3 in the illustrated example can also be the same as those in the aforementioned example, that is, including a recovery hole 31 and a recovery channel 32. After the sharp part 21 penetrates the wall 41 of the target plaque 4 and enters the interior of the target plaque 4, the contents of the target plaque 4 can be extracted by suction at the proximal end of the recovery channel 32.
[0059] Furthermore, this embodiment also provides another preferred example of the content recycling mechanism 3, which includes a blocking member 34 having selective permeability, allowing a permeable size not greater than the size of a portion of the contents; the blocking member 34 is configured to switch between a blocking state and a second storage state; when the blocking member 34 is in the blocking state, it is used to block the downstream side of the target patch 4 to collect the contents larger than the allowed permeable size; when the blocking member 34 is in the second storage state, it is loaded into the conduit 1 and used to move with the conduit 1; wherein, during the process of the blocking member 34 switching from the blocking state to the second storage state, the collected contents are prevented from detaching from the blocking member 34.
[0060] Optionally, the occlusion element 34 includes an expandable and contractible elastic structure, such as a mesh support woven from nickel-titanium wire, whereby the occlusion element 34 can contract and be retracted into the catheter 1 to be transported into the blood vessel 42 along with the catheter 1. Upon reaching the vicinity of the target plaque 4, the occlusion element 34 is driven to extend distally from the catheter 1, thereby expanding and occluding downstream of the target plaque 4. It should be noted that downstream here refers to the side downstream of the blood flow direction within the blood vessel 42. For example... Figure 9 In the illustrated example, the blood flow is from left to right, so the occluder 34 is located to the right of the target plaque 4. Since the elastic structure of the occluder 34, such as the mesh support, has large gaps, the occluder 34 further includes a semi-permeable membrane covering the elastic structure. Preferably, when the occluder 34 expands and obstructs downstream of the target plaque 4, the semi-permeable membrane and the elastic structure completely cover the entire cross-section of the blood vessel 42. The semi-permeable membrane has selective permeability, allowing a permeable size no larger than the size of a portion of the contents. Furthermore, the allowed permeable size is larger than the size of blood cells and other blood substances. Thus, the semi-permeable membrane allows blood cells and other blood substances to pass through. When the occluder 34 expands and obstructs the blood vessel 42, larger contents of the target plaque 4 that pose a risk of thrombosis can be blocked by the semi-permeable membrane on the side where blood flows in, preventing them from posing a risk through blood circulation.
[0061] Furthermore, during the transition from the blocked state to the second receiving state, the blocked member 34 is able to prevent the collected contents from detaching from the blocked member 34. In one example, the elastic structure of the blocked member 34 is, for example, umbrella-shaped, which prevents the contents from detaching as it moves proximally and is received into the conduit 1.
[0062] Preferred, in Figure 9 and Figure 10 In the example shown, the pointed part 21 can be blade-shaped, which can not only pierce the target plaque 4, but also cut open the capsule wall 42, so that the contents of the target plaque 4 can flow out into the blood vessel 42 quickly.
[0063] In use, catheter 1 is advanced along the guidewire to the vicinity of target plaque 4. Catheter 1 can rotate circumferentially, with the distal end of guide segment 572 tangentially aligned with target plaque 4. At this time, the occlusion actuator 34 is released downstream of target plaque 4 and switched to an occlusion state to block the blood vessel 42. Then, the drive wire and tip 21 are pushed forward, causing them to move forward and extend from catheter 1 under the guidance of guide segment 572 until tip 21 is aligned with target plaque 4. At this point, tip 21 is manipulated to puncture the wall 41 of target plaque 4, releasing the contents of target plaque 4. The contents reach the vicinity of occlusion actuator 34 under the action of blood flow, are blocked by the semipermeable membrane under blood pressure, and are collected by occlusion actuator 34. Once the contents of the target plaque 4 have been substantially filtered and adsorbed onto the semi-permeable membrane surface of the clogging member 34, the clogging member 34 can be recovered, allowing it to transition to a second storage state. The clogging member 34, along with the contents it has filtered and collected, is then loaded into the catheter 1 and removed from the body.
[0064] It is understandable that preferred examples of the contents recycling mechanism 3, including the blockage component 34, are not limited to applications such as... Figure 9 and Figure 10 The example shown can also be applied to, for example, Figure 2 The preferred example shown. Furthermore, the contents recycling mechanism 3 is not limited to including only one of the plug 34 or the recycling hole 31, but can also use both, for example in... Figure 2 In the illustrated example, a solution combining a plug 34 can also be used, so that if a small amount of contents leaks from the package wall 41 when squeezed, it can be recovered by the plug 34, improving reliability and safety.
[0065] In summary, the plaque treatment device provided by this invention includes a catheter, a plaque destruction mechanism, and a content recovery mechanism. The plaque destruction mechanism is configured to switch between an execution state and a first storage state. In the first storage state, the plaque destruction mechanism is mounted on the catheter and moves with it. In the execution state, the plaque destruction mechanism destroys the capsule of the target plaque, and the content recovery mechanism recovers the contents of the target plaque. With this configuration, the plaque destruction mechanism can physically destroy the capsule of the target plaque, allowing the contents of the target plaque to be recovered by the content recovery mechanism, preventing harm from blood circulation. This is a mechanical treatment method for vulnerable plaques, with the advantage of quickly addressing the root cause, achieving precise treatment, and realizing the goal of rapid and thorough treatment of vulnerable plaques.
[0066] It should be noted that the above embodiments can be combined with each other. The above description is only a description of preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on the above disclosure shall fall within the protection scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A plaque treatment device, characterized in that, include: The device includes a catheter, a plaque destruction mechanism, a contents recovery mechanism, and a drive mechanism; the plaque destruction mechanism includes a pointed portion connected to the drive mechanism. The driving mechanism is used to drive the plaque destruction mechanism to switch between an execution state and a first storage state; the plaque destruction mechanism in the first storage state is loaded onto the conduit and is used to move with the conduit; the plaque destruction mechanism in the execution state is used to destroy the wall of the target plaque, and the content recovery mechanism is used to recover the contents of the target plaque; The driving mechanism includes a driving wire and a guide, the driving wire being connected to the pointed portion; the guide is used to guide and change the extension direction of the driving wire; wherein, when the plaque destruction mechanism is in the first retracted state, the pointed portion does not extend beyond the outermost of the guide and the conduit; when the plaque destruction mechanism transitions from the first retracted state to the execution state, the pointed portion extends from the guide and the conduit in a direction at an angle to the axial direction of the conduit under the drive of the driving wire, for piercing the wall of the target plaque.
2. The plaque treatment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide includes an arc-shaped guide segment, the proximal end of which extends tangentially along the axial direction of the catheter, and the distal end of which extends tangentially at an angle to the axial direction of the catheter and penetrates the outer wall of the catheter; the guide segment is used for the drive wire to be movably inserted and for guiding and changing the extension direction of the drive wire.
3. The plaque treatment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The contents recycling mechanism includes a blocking element that has selective permeability, allowing a permeable size not greater than the size of a portion of the contents; the blocking element is configured to switch between a blocked state and a second storage state. When the blocking component is in the blocked state, it is used to block the downstream side of the target patch in order to collect the contents that are larger than the permissible permeability size; When the plug is in the second retracted state, it is loaded into the conduit and used to move with the conduit; During the process of the blocking component transitioning from the blocking state to the second storage state, the collected contents are prevented from leaving the blocking component.
4. The plaque treatment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The contents recovery mechanism includes a recovery hole that extends through the tip along its axial direction and is located on the tip, and a recovery channel that extends along the axial direction of the conduit, wherein the recovery hole and the recovery channel are connected; the recovery channel and the recovery hole are used to extract the contents of the target plaque.
5. The plaque treatment device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The contents recovery mechanism also includes a plurality of side holes, which are radially formed on the sidewall of the pointed portion and communicate with the recovery hole; the side holes allow the contents of the target plaque to pass through.
6. The plaque treatment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The catheter is a multi-lumen tube.