Clot Capture System with Collapsible Frame for Tortuous Vessel Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional technologies face challenges in effectively navigating and removing acute blockages, such as clots, from small, tortuous, and fragile cerebral arteries due to large device profiles, lack of deliverability, and ineffective clot removal mechanisms, limiting their use in treating acute ischemic strokes.

Innovation Solution

A clot capture system featuring a micro catheter-based device with a collapsible, flexible frame and fibre net that can expand to engage and retrieve clots without fragmenting them, allowing for navigation through tortuous vessels and safe disengagement from the vessel wall.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional clot retrieval devices are used, then clot removal capability is provided, but device profile is too large to navigate tortuous cerebral vessels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeliverability through tortuous vesselsVSAvoiddevice profile
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple collapsible segments or struts that can be compressed into a compact configuration for delivery through tortuous vessels, then expanded at the target site to effectively capture and retrieve clots. This segmentation allows the device to transition between a small delivery profile and an effective retrieval configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs a nested structure where collapsible elements are contained within a delivery catheter during insertion, allowing the device to be delivered through the microcatheter and then deployed at the target location. The nested configuration enables the device to access distal cerebral vessels while maintaining a manageable profile during delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Productivity

If conventional devices are delivered to target sites, then clot engagement is attempted, but the devices lack effective clot removal capability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclot removal effectivenessVSAvoiddevice effectiveness at target site
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates dynamic elements such as expandable baskets, nets, or snares that can be activated at the target site to effectively capture and secure clots. These dynamic structures transition from a compact delivery state to an expanded retrieval state, enabling effective clot removal while maintaining deliverability through tortuous vessels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If devices are collapsed to low profile for delivery, then navigateability is improved, but adequate clot retaining scaffolding features are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation through microcatheterVSAvoidclot retaining scaffolding structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device uses segmented or modular construction where the clot retaining scaffolding features are distributed across multiple collapsible elements. When collapsed for delivery, these segments compact into a low profile; when deployed, they expand to provide adequate scaffolding for clot retention, effectively resolving the contradiction between delivery profile and retention capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2341845B1Clot capture systems
Publication Date: 2016.01.06 NEURAVI
  • EP2341845B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2341845B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2341845B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

A clot capture system for disengaging a clot 2001 from a vessel wall 2002 and removing the clot 2001 from the vessel 202, comprises a clot capture device 2140 for placement on a distal side of a clot 2001. The clot capture device 2140 has a retracted delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The clot removal device has a proximal support frame 2012, and a distal fibre net 2130. The support frame 2012 has a retracted delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The proximal support frame 2012 in the expanded configuration defines a proximal inlet mouth for engaging a clot 2001 and a net 2130 for confining the clot 2001. An elongate member facilitates capture and/or withdrawal of a clot 2001 from a vessel 2002. The system also comprises a clot debonding device 2091 for placement on a proximal side of a clot 2001. The clot debonding device 2091 has a retracted delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration and comprises a clot engagement element 2112 which defines a distal abutment in the deployed configuration for urging a clot 2001 into the clot capture device 2140.