Bristled Clot Retrieval Structure for Low-Fragmentation Thrombectomy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clot removal devices often fail to capture clots in their entirety, promote clot fragmentation, and cause endothelial denudation due to high friction with the vessel wall, increasing the risk of stroke and vascular complications.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a pusher and a clot-engaging device featuring bristles, semi-continuous protrusions, or grooves on its surface, designed to gently engage and retrieve clots while minimizing vessel damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional clot capture devices are used, then clot removal is attempted, but the devices fail to capture clots in their entirety and promote clot fragmentation
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a compliant, flexible distal end section that can deform and conform to the clot structure, enabling complete encapsulation without rigid contact that causes fragmentation. The flexible material allows the device to adapt to irregular clot shapes while maintaining gentle engagement forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal end is designed with a rounded, spheroidal geometry that distributes contact forces uniformly across the clot surface, preventing stress concentration that would lead to fragmentation. The curved surface allows complete clot encapsulation while minimizing mechanical damage during capture and retrieval.
2Productivity
If conventional clot removal devices are used, then clot retrieval is attempted, but high friction between the device and vessel wall causes endothelial denudation
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible distal end section reduces friction with the vessel wall by conforming to vascular contours and reducing mechanical contact pressure. This compliance allows smooth navigation through the vasculature while maintaining effective clot capture, preventing endothelial injury during both delivery and retrieval phases.
3Reliability
If conventional clot capture devices are used, then clot engagement is attempted, but fragmented thrombi may dislodge and accumulate at another site
Solution Approach 1:
The rounded distal end geometry creates a cup-like structure that cradles and secures the clot, preventing fragmentation and dislodgement during retrieval. The spherical shape allows complete clot containment while distributing retrieval forces uniformly, reducing the risk of thrombus breakage and distal embolization.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes a pusher and a clot-engaging device coupled to the pusher. The clot-engaging device includes a plurality of bristles extending from a surface of the clot-engaging device. In one configuration, each bristle of the plurality of bristles includes a first end attached to the surface of the clot-engaging device. In one configuration the material composition of each bristle in the first set of bristles is polymer or polymer-based. In one configuration, at least a portion of a body of each bristle of the plurality of bristles extends linearly in a radial direction from a center of the clot-engaging device. In another configuration, at least one bristle of the plurality of bristles is pointing in a tangential direction away from the surface of the clot-engaging device.