Coiled Vein Ablation Catheter for Precise Closure Agent Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing catheter devices for treating superficial venous insufficiency face issues such as ineffective delivery of therapeutic agents due to vessel distortion, risk of injury to healthy veins, and inadequate blood emptying, leading to diminished treatment effectiveness and potential complications like deep venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis.

Innovation Solution

A catheter device with a shaft, balloon, and angular offset abrasion elements that extend along the shaft, allowing for controlled engagement and abrasion of the vessel wall, followed by inflation to form a closure zone for treatment, aspiration of fluids, and injection of closure agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional catheter devices are used to deliver therapeutic agents, then the treatment can be performed minimally invasively, but the delivery effectiveness is reduced due to vessel distortion and inadequate blood emptying

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoiddelivery effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The device performs preliminary mechanical abrasion of the vessel wall using rotating abrasion elements before delivering the therapeutic agent. This preliminary action prepares the vessel wall by creating micro-abrasions that enhance subsequent drug delivery effectiveness, directly addressing the problem of reduced delivery effectiveness due to vessel distortion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter device is segmented into distinct functional components: an abrasion section with rotating elements for mechanical preparation, and a separate injection section for therapeutic agent delivery. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with the abrasion elements effectively emptying and preparing the treatment zone before agent injection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If foam sclerotherapy is used to treat incompetent veins, then the treatment can be performed without surgery, but there is a risk of injury to healthy veins and formation of thrombosis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-invasive treatmentVSAvoidinjury to healthy veins

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies local mechanical abrasion only to the specific treatment zone within the incompetent vein using the rotating abrasion elements. This localized preparation creates micro-abrasions precisely where needed, allowing subsequent therapeutic agent delivery to be confined to the target area and preventing injury to healthy surrounding veins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical abrasion elements serve as an intermediary between the catheter and the vessel wall, preparing the treatment zone through controlled micro-abrasion before therapeutic agent injection. This intermediary action enhances drug delivery to the target vein while the controlled nature of the abrasion prevents damage to healthy adjacent veins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If abrasion elements are longitudinally aligned in prior art devices, then the structure is simple, but the treatment coverage is incomplete due to elements deflecting to one side during balloon inflation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidtreatment coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The abrasion elements are positioned asymmetrically around the catheter shaft rather than being longitudinally aligned. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that when the balloon inflates, the abrasion elements deflect to different sides and maintain contact with the vessel wall around the entire circumference, providing complete treatment coverage while maintaining relatively simple device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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 device ensures effective treatment by maintaining contact with the vessel wall, reducing the risk of over-treatment, and minimizing complications, while allowing for precise delivery of therapeutic agents.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of coiled abrasion elements (1160) extending along the catheter shaft (1100) and over the balloon (1105)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 2

a balloon (1105) on the catheter shaft (1100) adjacent to the distal end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20260047856A1Device and method of vein treatment using coiled abrasion elements

Publication Date: 2026.02.19 SOLVEIN INC

AI summary

Balloon based therapy devices for treatment of diseased vessels with particular applicability to veins are described. The devices are adapted for active aspiration of a closure zone, in particular aspects to an isolated closure zone, prior to delivery of a closure agent. The devices may be used for treatment of diseased veins in the lower limbs and pelvis. The devices may also include a plurality of angular offset abrasion elements adapted to engage with a vessel wall, such as along a treatment zone.