Atherectomy Catheter Shaped Distal Tip Maneuverability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing atherectomy catheters with straight profiles struggle to maneuver effectively against arterial walls, particularly in curved or tortuous portions of arteries, making it difficult to remove all plaque buildup efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The atherectomy catheter features an elongate body with a fixed jog section and a flexible section, both formed with a frame having circumferential slits, which allows the catheter to be pre-shaped with a curvature that can be activated to form an s-shape, enabling better apposition against the vessel wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a straight profile catheter is used, then the catheter structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the catheter cannot maneuver effectively against arterial walls in curved or tortuous portions
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates a dynamic curvature mechanism that allows the catheter to transition from a straight configuration during insertion to a curved configuration during operation. The curved section can be actively adjusted to match the anatomy of the artery, enabling effective maneuverability while maintaining a simple straight profile for easy manufacture and insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is divided into distinct sections: a straight proximal section for easy insertion and manufacture, and a curved distal section for effective maneuverability. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the straight section remains simple for manufacturing while the curved section provides the necessary operational flexibility.
2Device complexity
If a straight profile catheter is used, then the catheter design is simple, but the catheter cannot remove all plaque buildup in curved artery sections
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter employs a dynamic curvature mechanism that allows the distal section to be actively curved to match the artery's anatomy. This enables the cutter to maintain effective contact with the vessel wall in curved sections, significantly improving plaque removal efficiency while adding minimal complexity to the overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter design incorporates the ability to change the curvature parameter of the distal section. By adjusting the curvature to match the specific anatomical requirements of each patient's artery, the catheter can effectively remove plaque from curved sections without requiring a completely complex redesign for each case.
3Ease of operation
If a curved distal section is added to improve maneuverability, then the catheter can appose better against vessel walls, but the catheter structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is segmented into a simple straight proximal section and a curved distal section. This segmentation allows the complexity to be localized only where needed for apposition, while the majority of the catheter remains simple in structure. The curved section is designed to provide necessary apposition capability without requiring complex mechanisms throughout the entire catheter length.
Data Source
AI summary
An atherectomy device including a catheter body, a nosecone and a driveshaft. The catheter body may include a fixed jog section having a fixed curvature, and a flexible section having a greater lateral flexibility than the fixed jog section. The flexible section may include circumferential slits that are configured to allow the flexible section to passively bend in multiple directions. The nosecone may be attached to a distal end of the catheter body. The driveshaft may be configured to rotate within the catheter body and to move distally and proximally within the catheter body. A distal end of the driveshaft may include an annular cutter.