Catheter Inflatable Member Obstruction Vessel Damage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter technologies face challenges in safely and effectively removing obstructions from body vasculature, particularly in acute ischemic stroke scenarios, where quick restoration of blood flow is critical to prevent tissue damage, and existing methods may not adequately minimize damage to blood vessels during the retrieval process.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with an inflatable member made of semi-compliant or compliant materials that expands to obstruct the lumen, allowing for partial or complete obstruction of the catheter's internal lumen and minimizing radial forces on blood vessel walls, combined with a method involving suction to retrieve obstructions, ensuring safe removal while reducing the risk of vessel damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-compliant balloon is used to obstruct the lumen, then the obstruction is effective, but radial forces on blood vessel walls increase causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compliance parameter of the balloon from non-compliant to semi-compliant or compliant, allowing the balloon to expand and obstruct the lumen while dynamically adjusting its radial forces to minimize damage to blood vessel walls
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon is designed to be dynamically adjustable in terms of compliance, transitioning from a rigid non-compliant structure to a flexible semi-compliant or compliant structure that can adapt to the vessel wall movements and reduce harmful radial forces
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a compliant balloon is used to minimize radial forces on vessels, then vessel damage is reduced, but the ability to effectively obstruct the lumen is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the compliance parameter to achieve a balance, using semi-compliant balloons that provide both lumen obstruction capability and reduced radial forces on vessel walls, or compliant balloons with sufficient inflation pressure to maintain effective obstruction
3Reliability
If high inflation pressure is used to obstruct the lumen, then obstruction effectiveness is improved, but the risk of vessel damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter by using semi-compliant or compliant balloons that require lower inflation pressures to achieve effective lumen obstruction, thereby reducing the risk of vessel damage while maintaining obstruction reliability
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
The catheter effectively retrieves obstructions with minimal risk of damaging blood vessels, facilitating quick restoration of blood flow and reducing the risk of embolization, thereby preserving tissue in ischemic penumbra areas.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one inflatable member includes semi-compliant and/or compliant material, for example exhibiting at least in body temperature a diameter growth of about 10% and/or higher when inflated
Implementation Method 2
a method involving suction to retrieve obstructions
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter for removable insertion into a body vasculature has at least one inflatable member. The catheter has at least in part an expandable body that forms an internal axially extending lumen in at least the expanded state of the body. The inflatable member is adjacent a distal axial end of the body and is configured to at least partially obstruct the lumen.