Aortic Catheter Filter for Cerebral Embolic Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing clots and foreign bodies from the vascular system are limited by size compatibility issues, complexity of devices, and the risk of dislodging emboli during surgical procedures, particularly in cerebral vasculature, where existing systems are difficult to deploy and retract effectively and may cause tissue ischemia or infarction if not successful in reestablishing blood flow.
Innovation Solution
A catheter-based endovascular filtration system with dual filters positioned in the brachiocephalic and left common carotid arteries, allowing for controlled deployment and retrieval, which captures embolic material and foreign bodies, preventing their travel to the cerebral vasculature during surgical procedures, and can be left in place for a therapeutic period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Fogarty catheter is used to remove clots, then blood flow can be reestablished, but the interior lining of the vessel may be damaged during catheter withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function of mechanical clot removal (Fogarty catheter) and replaces it with a filtration system that passively captures embolic material. The filter device is deployed in the aorta to capture clots and foreign bodies, extracting them from the blood flow without requiring catheter withdrawal through the cerebral vasculature, thereby eliminating vessel lining damage while maintaining blood flow reestablishment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The filter device serves as an intermediary between the aortic circulation and cerebral vasculature. It captures embolic material in the aorta before these materials can travel to and occlude cerebral arteries, mediating the protection of cerebral vessels without requiring direct intervention in the cerebral vasculature itself
2Reliability
If thrombolytic agents are infused to dissolve clots, then clot removal is achieved, but the procedure takes hours or days and hemorrhage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clot management approach into two distinct functions: (1) passive filtration and capture of embolic material at its source in the aorta, and (2) optional mechanical retrieval. This segmentation eliminates the need for prolonged thrombolytic infusion by providing immediate mechanical capture of clots, reducing procedure duration from hours/days to minutes while maintaining effective clot removal
Solution Approach 2:
The filter device is deployed preliminarily in the aorta before embolic material can travel to cerebral arteries. This preliminary action captures clots and foreign bodies at their origin, preventing downstream occlusion without requiring subsequent thrombolytic treatment or emergency intervention in the cerebral vasculature
3Reliability
If existing filter systems are deployed in cerebral vasculature, then embolic protection is provided, but deployment and retraction become difficult and may cause tissue ischemia
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the filtration function from the cerebral vasculature by placing the filter device in the aorta rather than in cerebral arteries. This segmentation provides embolic protection for cerebral vessels while avoiding the operational difficulties of deploying and retracting devices in the delicate cerebral vasculature, eliminating tissue ischemia risk associated with prolonged device presence
Solution Approach 2:
The aortic filter device serves as an intermediary that protects cerebral vasculature indirectly. It captures embolic material in the aorta before it can reach cerebral arteries, providing embolic protection without requiring direct placement in cerebral vessels, thereby maintaining ease of operation and eliminating ischemia risk
4Reliability
If multiple filters are deployed in carotid arteries, then thromboembolic protection is improved, but procedural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple filtration functions into a single aortic filter device. By capturing embolic material at the aortic level, one filter provides protection for both carotid arteries and their cerebral branches, eliminating the need for multiple separate filters in each carotid artery and significantly reducing procedural complexity while maintaining comprehensive thromboembolic protection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces the risk of thromboembolic disorders by preventing embolic material from reaching the cerebral vasculature, minimizing the risk of stroke and other vascular complications during cardiac or cardiothoracic surgeries, and allows for reduced procedural complexity and time.
Implementation Method 1
a filter positioned in the aorta, between the aortic arch and the left subclavian artery... which captures embolic material and foreign bodies
Data Source
AI summary
Single filter and multi-filter endolumenal methods and systems for filtering fluids within the body. In some embodiments a blood filtering system captures and removes particulates dislodged or generated during a surgical procedure and circulating in a patient's vasculature. In some embodiments a filter system protects the cerebral vasculature during a cardiac valve repair or replacement procedure.