Aspiration Catheter Clot Sensing for Targeted Thrombectomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacuum-assisted thrombectomy systems face challenges in accurately identifying and quantifying clot material, potentially leading to excessive blood loss and inability to differentiate between clot and non-clot substances during aspiration.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of sensors on and within suction catheters to detect clot material, utilizing electrical, optical, and ultrasound modalities to confirm clot presence and control suction and maceration operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vacuum-assisted thrombectomy systems use large aspiration catheters to remove clot material, then the productivity of clot removal is improved, but the loss of substance (blood loss) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors (optical, impedance, pressure) that provide real-time feedback about the presence of clot material at the catheter opening. This feedback enables the control system to dynamically adjust suction activation and macerator operation, ensuring that strong suction and maceration are applied only when clot is present, thereby maximizing clot removal efficiency while minimizing unnecessary blood aspiration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the patient's own blood flow characteristics and clot properties to automatically regulate the thrombectomy process. The sensors detect clot presence and the control system automatically modulates suction and maceration without requiring continuous manual intervention, allowing the system to self-adjust based on real-time conditions to optimize clot removal while reducing blood loss.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are integrated on and within suction catheters to detect clot material, then the measurement precision of clot detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing modalities (optical sensors, impedance sensors, pressure sensors) are merged into a single integrated catheter system. These diverse sensors are combined with the macerator and suction mechanisms within the same catheter structure, creating a unified device that performs detection, differentiation, and treatment functions simultaneously, thereby achieving high measurement precision without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously performs clot detection, clot differentiation from blood, and mechanical thrombectomy operations. The sensor array and control system serve multiple purposes: detecting clot presence, determining clot characteristics, regulating suction, and controlling maceration, thereby achieving comprehensive functionality without requiring separate dedicated devices for each function.
3Reliability
If real-time sensor feedback is used to control suction and maceration operations, then the reliability of thrombectomy procedure is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Real-time sensor feedback from the catheter tip is continuously monitored by the control system, which automatically adjusts suction activation and macerator operation based on detected clot presence. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enhances procedural reliability by preventing suction when no clot is present and ensuring maceration is applied only when needed, while the automated control logic manages complexity by using algorithmic decision-making rather than requiring complex manual coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system replaces manual mechanical coordination with automated electronic control. Instead of requiring operators to manually coordinate suction and maceration based on visual or tactile cues, the system uses electronic sensors and automated control algorithms to regulate these functions, thereby improving reliability through consistent automated responses while managing complexity through software-based control rather than complex mechanical linkages.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensor types are used to differentiate clot from non-clot substances, then the measurement precision of material identification is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor types (optical sensors for light absorption/scattering, impedance sensors for electrical properties, pressure sensors for flow characteristics) are merged into a single integrated sensing array within the catheter. This combination allows the system to simultaneously measure multiple physical properties of the material at the catheter tip, enabling accurate differentiation between clot and non-clot substances through multi-parameter analysis rather than relying on a single sensor type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system exploits changes in multiple physical parameters (optical absorption, electrical impedance, pressure) to differentiate clot from non-clot materials. By monitoring how these parameters change in response to material presence and composition, the system achieves high measurement precision in material identification. The control system analyzes patterns across multiple parameters to distinguish clot characteristics from blood or other substances, thereby improving differentiation accuracy while using standardized sensor technologies.
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
Enables precise and rapid confirmation of clot removal, reducing blood loss by ensuring targeted aspiration and maceration, and providing real-time feedback for safer thrombectomy procedures.
Implementation Method 1
optical sensors (including sensors for detecting color)
Implementation Method 2
optical sensors (including sensors for detecting color)
Implementation Method 3
sensors for detecting an electrical property, such as impedance (e.g., bioimpedance, including bioimpedance spectroscopy)
Implementation Method 4
Sensor types may include ultrasound sensors
Implementation Method 5
applying suction through the suction catheter
Implementation Method 6
an optional macerator within the catheter
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are methods and apparatuses for characterizing a material at a distal end of an aspiration catheter using one or more sensors. The methods and apparatuses described herein may include a plurality of sensing electrodes at a distal end region of the apparatus, and a controller configured to sense contact and/or close proximity to the sensing electrodes. These methods and apparatuses may determine or detect vessel size. These methods and apparatuses may include distal contrast ports for applying contrast material distal to the aspiration catheter. In some examples these apparatuses include one or more reference electrodes near the sensing electrodes that may enhance detection of material (e.g., clot, blood vessel wall). These methods and apparatuses may include a steerable distal end region. In some cases the apparatuses and methods may include a retriever probe to assist in capturing clot material.