Electrostatic Clot Retrieval Catheter for Vascular Thrombectomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures for removing clot material from blood vessels, such as those used in ischemic stroke treatment, face challenges including the risk of dislodging clot fragments, incomplete clot removal, and difficulties in navigating tortuous vascular anatomy.
Innovation Solution
The use of an electrically enhanced treatment system that applies a positive charge to an interventional element using a current generator, attracting negatively charged blood components and improving clot attachment to the element, thereby enhancing the efficiency of clot removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a stent is used to push the clot to the side of the vessel, then blood flow is re-established, but the clot may not be sufficiently retained and may remain in the vasculature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical stent pushing mechanism with an electrostatic attraction system. A catheter delivers positive electrical charges to the clot, which attracts negatively charged blood components and creates electrostatic forces that secure the clot to the catheter, preventing fragmentation and loss while maintaining effective clot removal
2Ease of operation
If the stent is withdrawn to remove the clot, then the clot can be retrieved, but the clot may detach from the stent during withdrawal through tortuous anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical friction-based adhesion with electrostatic attraction. By delivering positive charges to the clot via the catheter, the system creates strong electrostatic forces that hold the clot securely during withdrawal through tortuous vasculature, preventing detachment even when mechanical grip would fail
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the interaction between the catheter and clot by applying electrical charges. This transforms the adhesion mechanism from mechanical friction to electrostatic attraction, fundamentally altering how the clot is held during retrieval through complex vascular pathways
3Reliability
If multiple passes are made to fully retrieve the clot, then complete removal is achieved, but the procedure duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electrostatic attraction to achieve complete clot capture in a single pass. The positive charges delivered to the clot attract and secure all clot material to the catheter, eliminating the need for multiple retrieval attempts and significantly reducing procedure time while ensuring complete removal
4Reliability
If tPA is administered to break down the clot, then clot dissolution occurs, but it takes time for tPA to reach the clot and begin breaking it up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical thrombolysis with direct electrical charge delivery to the clot. This eliminates the time required for tPA to travel through the vasculature and begin dissolution, providing immediate electrostatic forces that capture and secure the clot for rapid removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies electrical charges directly to the clot before any mechanical retrieval attempts. This preliminary electrostatic capture secures the clot to the catheter, preventing fragmentation and enabling immediate controlled removal without waiting for chemical dissolution to occur
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
This approach reduces the number of device passes required to fully retrieve the clot, minimizes the risk of clot fragments detaching during retrieval, and improves the overall effectiveness of clot removal in complex vascular anatomy.
Implementation Method 1
The treatment system includes a current generator configured to apply a positive charge to the interventional element to attract negatively charged blood components, thereby improving attachment of the thrombus to the interventional element
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can an interventional element configured to be delivered to a treatment site and to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply. The interventional element can be surface treated (e.g., via electrochemical anodization) to achieve a desired electrical conductivity gradient over the surface of the interventional element. The electrical conductivity gradient can result in a more desirable surface charge distribution upon delivery of electrical current to the interventional element.