Catheter Atherector With Rotating Sphere for Vessel-Sparing Plaque Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing atherectomy catheters often cut, perforate, tear, and stretch vessel walls during plaque removal, causing inflammation, stenosis, and blocking blood flow, while also disrupting blood flow and pressure.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with a spherical emulsification reduction sphere and an emulsification-extraction wire that rotate independently to shave and scoop plaque into cutters without piercing the vessel wall, allowing emulsified material to flow proximally through the lumen, maintaining laminar blood flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional atherectomy catheters are used to remove plaque, then plaque removal is achieved, but vessel walls are cut, perforated, torn, and stretched causing scar formation and inflammation
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the plaque removal function into separate components: a rotating sphere with protrusions for shaving/pluck removal and a separate wire with cutters for emulsification. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without causing unnecessary damage to the vessel wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary emulsification process using a wire with screw helical ridges that acts as a mediator between the mechanical shaving action and the final plaque removal. This intermediary mechanism emulsifies the plaque without directly cutting the vessel wall, reducing harmful effects.
2Productivity
If atherectomy catheters operate at high speeds for efficient plaque removal, then productivity increases, but temperature and damage to vessels occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses periodic rotational motion of the sphere and wire components rather than continuous high-speed linear motion. The rotating sphere with protrusions periodically contacts the plaque, and the wire rotates in opposition, creating a controlled periodic action that removes plaque efficiently without generating excessive heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces high-speed mechanical cutting action with a combination of rotational shaving action and emulsification. The screw helical ridges on the wire create a mechanical emulsification effect that substitutes for high-speed cutting, reducing temperature generation while maintaining productivity.
3Productivity
If atherectomy catheters block arterial blood flow completely during plaque removal, then plaque removal is achieved, but blood pressure increases and patient safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device nests the emulsification wire within the catheter lumen, and the sphere within the distal opening. This nested configuration allows the plaque removal mechanism to be contained within the vessel lumen while maintaining a controlled interface with the blood flow, preventing complete blockage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device recovers and filters the emulsified plaque material through the catheter lumen rather than allowing it to be discarded into the bloodstream. The screw helical ridges facilitate the recovery of emulsified material, and a filter system captures the particles, preventing them from causing downstream complications while maintaining patient safety.
4Productivity
If conventional catheters cause scar tissue formation in vessels, then plaque removal is achieved, but inflammation and stenosis occur requiring additional removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful mechanical cutting action into a beneficial emulsification process. The screw helical ridges on the wire create a controlled mechanical action that emulsifies plaque without causing the same degree of vascular injury, transforming a harmful mechanism into a beneficial one that reduces inflammation and stenosis.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the operational parameters from high-speed cutting to controlled rotational emulsification. By altering the mechanical parameters (speed, contact pressure, motion type), the system achieves plaque removal with reduced tissue damage, minimizing scar formation and subsequent inflammation.
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
Efficient plaque removal without cutting or permanently stretching the vessel walls, ensuring uninterrupted blood flow and pressure, with emulsified material filtered and returned to the vessel.
Implementation Method 1
an emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere within the distal opening of the catheter, wherein the emulsification reduction of plaque particles sphere comprises a substantially spherical shape composed of a plurality of alternating, adjacent protrusions and slots... an emulsification-extraction wire contained within the lumen of catheter, wherein the emulsification-extraction wire comprises a substantially cylindrical screw helical ridge body and forms an internal auger within internal walls of the catheter lumen
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of protrusions shave and scoop the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material cutters for emulsification into reduced particles
Implementation Method 3
an emulsification-extraction wire contained within the lumen of catheter, wherein the emulsification-extraction wire comprises a substantially cylindrical screw helical ridge body and forms an internal auger within internal walls of the catheter lumen
Implementation Method 4
the plurality of protrusions shave and scoop the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material cutters... the distal sharp tips of each protrusion shave the occlusive material into the plurality of occlusive material particles
Data Source
AI summary
An improved catheter atherector for shaving, cutting, and emulsifying accumulated plaque into fine particles, and removing the particles from blood vessel walls without cutting or permanently stretching the walls, and without substantially blocking the blood flow through the vessel during plaque removal operation. The catheter atherector includes an emulsification reduction sphere and extraction wire that rotate and move axially inside the vessel to engage the occlusive material. Emulsified occlusive reduced plaque material and blood only flow in a proximal direction into a catheter lumen. The operation of the device does not substantially disrupt blood pressure within the blood vessel.