Double-Balloon Catheter Breach Detection With Staged Cryogen Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryogenic devices with double balloons can experience breaches, leading to coolant leakage into the bloodstream, which is unsafe for patients.
Innovation Solution
A cryogenic system that detects balloon breaches by measuring parameters such as pressure and temperature, and applies passive and active suction to prevent coolant leakage, transitioning to full vacuum when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single balloon is used as the expansion chamber, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential breaches leading to coolant leakage into the bloodstream
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested balloon configuration where an inner balloon is placed inside an outer balloon. The inner balloon serves as the primary expansion chamber for coolant injection, while the outer balloon acts as a containment barrier. This nested structure ensures that even if the inner balloon breaches, the coolant remains contained within the outer balloon, preventing leakage into the bloodstream while maintaining a relatively simple overall device architecture.
2Reliability
If passive and active suction systems are implemented, then the reliability of coolant containment is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional vacuum lines and suction sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dual-mode suction system that activates in predetermined sequences based on breach detection. The system includes a passive suction source that activates immediately upon breach detection to begin removing coolant, and an active suction source that activates subsequently to enhance the removal capability. This preliminary action approach ensures rapid response to breaches while managing system complexity through staged activation rather than continuous operation of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction system is designed to automatically activate upon detection of a balloon breach, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The control system monitors balloon integrity and autonomously engages the appropriate suction mode (passive or active) based on the breach severity, allowing the system to service itself and maintain safety without adding complex manual control mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rapid coolant removal is prioritized, then the harmful effects of coolant leakage are reduced, but the loss of time for controlled coolant evacuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic or staged suction activation rather than continuous maximum suction. The system activates passive suction immediately upon breach detection, then transitions to active suction after a predetermined time interval or based on coolant removal progress. This periodic action allows for controlled coolant evacuation that prevents rapid leakage into the bloodstream while managing the overall evacuation time through staged rather than simultaneous activation of all suction components.
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
Rapid detection and prevention of coolant leakage, enhancing patient safety by quickly removing coolant from the catheter.
Implementation Method 1
the cryogenic system may cause, at a first time, suction to be exerted on one or more vacuum lines of the cryogenic system. The suction may be due to passive and/or active scavenging.
Implementation Method 2
an active suction source (e.g., a vacuum pump) may actively exert suction on a second vacuum line to remove cryogen from within the inner balloon and the portion of the hydraulic circuit between the breached balloons and the active suction source.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a console and a balloon catheter with an inner balloon and an outer balloon. The console is fluidly coupled to the balloon catheter via aa first vacuum line and and a second vacuum line. The console includes processing circuitry configured to determine whether at least one breach condition is satisfied based on at least one parameter measured by sensors of the system. Responsive to determining that at least one of the breach conditions is satisfied, the processing circuitry is configured to cause, at a first time, passive suction to be exerted on the first vacuum line and active suction to be exerted on the second vacuum line. Additionally, the processing circuitry is configured to cause, at a second time that is after the first time, active suction to be exerted on first vacuum line and the second vacuum line.