Angled Tip Balloon Catheter for Single-Site Thrombectomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endovascular procedures for hemodialysis require multiple vascular access sites to address thrombosis in arteriovenous fistulas and grafts, leading to inefficiencies and increased surgical equipment needs due to the inability of traditional catheters to reorient and treat blockages from a single site.
Innovation Solution
An endovascular balloon catheter with an angled tip and inflatable oblong-shaped balloon that can be rotated within a blood vessel from a single access site, allowing for thrombectomy procedures to be performed more safely and efficiently by anchoring against the vessel wall and changing direction to access both anterograde and retrograde flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional catheters are used for thrombectomy procedures, then multiple vascular access sites are required to treat blockages, but this increases surgical equipment needs and procedural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a rotatable angled tip that can dynamically change direction within the vessel. The tip can be rotated between approximately 0 to 180 degrees to access both anterograde and retrograde flows, allowing a single access site to treat blockages in multiple directions that traditionally required multiple access points
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is designed to perform multiple functions from a single access site: it can treat blockages in both anterograde and retrograde directions, and can access different vessel segments by rotating the tip. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate catheters or access sites for different thrombectomy directions
2Reliability
If multiple vascular access sites are used for thrombectomy, then complete coverage of blockages is achieved, but procedural time and surgical steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the functionality of multiple access sites into a single catheter. By integrating a rotatable tip mechanism, the catheter can perform thrombectomy in both anterograde and retrograde directions from one access site, merging what would traditionally require separate procedures into a single intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter adds rotational freedom as a new dimension of movement. Instead of requiring multiple linear access points, the system introduces angular rotation (0 to 180 degrees) at the tip, allowing the catheter to reach different vessel segments and flow directions from a single access location
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional straight-tipped catheters are used, then the catheter body remains simple, but the catheter cannot reorient to access different vessel directions
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into distinct functional segments: a straightforward catheter body for simple navigation, and a specialized angled tip section for directional control. This segmentation allows the majority of the catheter to remain simple while concentrating the complexity only where needed for reorientation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The angled tip acts as an intermediary element between the simple catheter body and the complex task of navigating multiple vessel directions. The tip's rotational capability mediates between the straightforward catheter design and the need for directional adaptability, adding reorientation functionality without requiring complete redesign of the entire catheter
Data Source
AI summary
A balloon catheter and methods for use are disclosed for endovascular procedures, e.g., performing a thrombectomy. In one embodiment, among others, the balloon catheter includes an elongated catheter body. At a distal end, the catheter body also includes an angled tip and a balloon adjacent to the angled tip. The balloon is inflatable to form an oblong shape.