Rotational Atherectomy Fluid Control via Peristaltic Pump

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotational angioplasty devices face challenges in maintaining consistent fluid flow during procedures, which can lead to inadequate cooling and flushing of the treatment area, potentially causing platelet activation and thrombus formation, and are limited by the need for repeated repressurization of saline bags to ensure fluid flow.

Innovation Solution

A system that includes a controller and fluid supply mechanism to maintain minimal fluid flow when the drive shaft is not rotating, with separate controls to increase fluid flow rate and initiate drive shaft rotation, allowing for a preflush period with saline to dilute blood and prevent platelet activation, and a peristaltic pump to regulate fluid flow independently of drive shaft rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If fluid flow is maintained at minimal rate when drive shaft is not rotating, then platelet activation and thrombus formation are reduced, but inadequate cooling and flushing of treatment area occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplatelet activation and thrombus formationVSAvoidcooling of treatment area

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts fluid flow rate based on the operational state of the drive shaft. During rotation, fluid flow is increased to provide adequate cooling and flushing. When rotation stops, fluid flow is reduced to minimal rate to prevent platelet activation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting fluid flow to the specific operational phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary cooling and flushing of the treatment area before initiating drive shaft rotation, and maintains this action during rotation. This ensures that the treatment area is adequately cooled and cleared before high-speed rotation begins, preventing thermal buildup and debris accumulation that would otherwise require high continuous fluid flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If repeated repressurization of saline bags is performed to ensure fluid flow, then fluid flow is maintained, but procedure complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flowVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical system of repeatedly pressurizing saline bags is replaced with an automated peristaltic pump system. The pump is controlled by the controller to automatically adjust fluid flow rates based on drive shaft rotation status, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing procedure complexity while maintaining adequate fluid flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system becomes self-regulating by automatically adjusting fluid flow rates based on its own operational state. The controller monitors drive shaft rotation and autonomously adjusts pump speed to maintain appropriate fluid flow, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external manual repressurization operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Temperature

If fluid flow is increased to provide cooling and flushing, then treatment area is adequately cooled, but platelet activation risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling of treatment areaVSAvoidplatelet activation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic fluid flow rate adjustment that correlates with drive shaft rotation status. During rotation when cooling demand is high, fluid flow is increased to provide adequate cooling. When rotation ceases, fluid flow is immediately reduced to minimal rate to eliminate platelet activation risk. This temporal coordination resolves the contradiction between cooling requirements and platelet activation prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enhances cooling and flushing of the treatment area, reduces the risk of platelet activation and thrombus formation, and allows for uninterrupted fluid flow during rotational angioplasty procedures, improving the efficacy of tissue removal and maintaining artery patency.

Implementation Method 1

a peristaltic pump to regulate fluid flow independently of drive shaft rotation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPeristalsis: Peristalsis

Implementation Method 2

a preflush period with saline to dilute blood and prevent platelet activation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDilution:

Implementation Method 3

at least part of the eccentric enlarged diameter section has a tissue removing surface with an abrasive surface to define a tissue removing segment of the drive shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS9078692B2Rotational atherectomy system

Publication Date: 2015.07.14 CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A method system and controller for controlling fluid flow in a rotational atherectomy device. A source of fluid is provided through a pump to the rotational atherectomy device, wherein the pump maintains the fluid flow at a minimal rate during a time period when a drive shaft of the device is not rotating. A first control is activated to increase a rate of the fluid flow and second control is activate to initiate a rotation of the drive shaft during another time period when the fluid flow is at the increased rate.