Aspiration Catheter Tip Centering via Threaded Intermediate Segment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aspiration catheters face challenges in effectively centering their tips within a patient's vessel lumen to direct suction towards occlusion material while avoiding the vessel wall or freely flowing blood, which is crucial for procedures like mechanical thrombectomy.
Innovation Solution
The aspiration catheter design features a distal portion with a movable intermediate portion made of flexible material that transitions between states, allowing the tip to be centered within the vessel lumen through engagement with threads on an outer catheter surface, enabling precise direction of suction towards occlusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the aspiration catheter tip is positioned within the vessel lumen, then suction can be applied to remove occlusion material, but the tip may not be precisely centered to direct suction towards the occlusion and avoid the vessel wall or freely flowing blood
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter tip is divided into multiple segments: a fixed proximal portion, a movable intermediate portion with threads, and a distal tip. The intermediate portion can translate along the longitudinal axis to adjust the tip position, enabling precise centering within the vessel lumen while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate portion is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to translate between proximal and distal positions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the tip to be precisely centered on the occlusion during the procedure, improving suction directionality without requiring a complex fixed positioning mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the intermediate portion is made of flexible material to allow movement, then the tip can be centered within the vessel lumen, but the structural stability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into distinct functional portions: the proximal portion provides structural stability and is fixed, while the intermediate portion with threads provides flexibility and movability for centering. Each segment performs its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the catheter have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The proximal portion uses rigid material for stability, while the intermediate portion uses flexible material with threads for movability and centering adjustment. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall stability and local flexibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If the distal portion translates proximally to center the tip, then suction direction is improved towards the occlusion, but the intermediate portion must undergo state transition which may increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate portion is designed as a dynamic element that can translate along the longitudinal axis between proximal and distal positions. This simple translational movement, enabled by the threaded engagement, allows precise control of tip positioning and suction direction without requiring complex state transition mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded engagement between the intermediate portion and the distal end acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates rotational movement into linear translation. This simple mechanical intermediary enables precise control of the tip position and suction direction while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
In various embodiments, the present specification discloses an aspiration catheter that has a slim profile, can effectively anchor or self-center in a location, within a patient's vessel lumen, to better provide directed suction or vacuum/negative pressure, and/or can effectively funnel or direct suction or vacuum/negative pressure toward an occlusion or obstruction within the patient's vessel lumen.