Atherectomy Burr Control with Power, Energy, and Torque Limits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing atherectomy devices face challenges in effectively crossing occlusions in blood vessels without damaging the surrounding vessel wall or previously implanted stents, particularly when dealing with both hard and soft occlusive materials, and there is a need for improved control mechanisms to manage power and energy input to prevent vessel trauma.
Innovation Solution
An atherectomy system with an electric drive mechanism regulated by a controller that enforces power and energy input limits, utilizing a control system with dynamic torque, power, and energy limits, and feedback mechanisms to prevent excessive operation, incorporating a Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If higher power and energy are applied to the atherectomy burr to improve cutting effectiveness, then the ability to excise occlusive material is enhanced, but the risk of damage to the vessel wall and stents increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors power and energy consumption of the drive mechanism and provides feedback signals when predetermined limits are approached or exceeded. This feedback mechanism enables real-time adjustment of operating parameters to maintain effective cutting while preventing vessel wall damage through dynamic control of power delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts power and energy delivery to the atherectomy burr based on real-time operating conditions. The controller modulates the drive mechanism's power output to match the actual cutting resistance encountered, enabling effective removal of tough occlusive material while preventing excessive energy application that could damage the vessel wall or stent.
2Strength
If the atherectomy system applies sufficient torque to cross chronic total occlusions, then the ability to penetrate hard occlusive material is improved, but the risk of excessive force application and vessel trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors torque output of the drive mechanism and provides feedback when predetermined torque limits are approached or exceeded. This enables real-time adjustment of torque application to maintain sufficient cutting force for penetrating chronic total occlusions while preventing excessive torque that could cause vessel trauma or stent damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the torque parameter dynamically based on operating conditions and occlusion characteristics. The controller adjusts torque delivery to match the resistance encountered, enabling penetration of hard calcified occlusions when necessary while reducing torque when the burr encounters softer tissue or when the occlusion is successfully penetrated.
3Productivity
If the drive mechanism operates at high power levels to maintain burr speed, then cutting efficiency is improved, but the risk of overheating and thermal damage to surrounding tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors power consumption and operational parameters of the drive mechanism and provides feedback when thermal damage risk is detected. This enables real-time adjustment of power delivery to maintain sufficient burr speed for effective cutting while preventing excessive power application that could cause overheating and thermal damage to surrounding vessel tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic monitoring and adjustment of power delivery to the drive mechanism. By cycling power application and allowing thermal dissipation periods, the system maintains high average burr speed for effective cutting while preventing continuous overheating that could cause thermal damage to surrounding tissue.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An atherectomy system includes an electric drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the electric drive mechanism. The controller regulates operation of the electric drive mechanism in accordance with a power input limit value that limits how much power can be put into an atherectomy burr and an energy input limit value that limits how much energy can be put into the atherectomy burr. The controller may also regulate operation of the electric drive mechanism in accordance with a dynamic torque limit.