Electrostatic Clot Retrieval Device for Vascular Stents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical procedures for removing clot material from blood vessels, such as those used in treating ischemic stroke, face challenges with clot detachment during retrieval, particularly at bifurcations and tortuous anatomy, leading to secondary strokes due to incomplete clot adhesion to interventional elements.

Innovation Solution

The use of an interventional element with electrodes that apply electrical current to positively charge the clot, improving adhesion by optimizing charge distribution and material composition, such as coating with conductive materials like gold, to enhance clot attachment and reduce the number of retrieval attempts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mechanical thrombectomy is performed using stents to push and drag clot material, then blood flow can be re-established, but the clot may detach during retrieval especially at bifurcations and tortuous anatomy causing secondary strokes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclot removal efficiencyVSAvoidclot adhesion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical clot engagement system with an electrostatic system. Electrodes on the interventional element generate an electric field that creates electrostatic attraction forces between the positively charged interventional element and the negatively charged clot material, providing more reliable adhesion than mechanical engagement alone, especially during navigation through tortuous anatomy and at bifurcations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the electrical charge parameter of the interventional element from neutral to positive by applying electrical current through electrodes. This parameter change creates electrostatic attraction to the negatively charged clot material, improving adhesion stability during retrieval without requiring increased mechanical force that could cause detachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple retrieval attempts are made to ensure complete clot removal, then complete clot adhesion can be achieved, but procedure duration increases reducing treatment efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete clot removalVSAvoidprocedure duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies electrostatic charge to the interventional element before clot engagement and maintains it throughout the retrieval process. This preliminary action ensures optimal adhesion conditions are established in advance, reducing the likelihood of detachment and minimizing the need for multiple retrieval attempts, thereby reducing procedure duration while ensuring complete clot removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If stent is expanded against clot to push it to vessel side, then blood flow is restored, but clot may not adhere to stent during withdrawal requiring additional retrieval attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow restorationVSAvoidclot-stent adhesion

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mechanical pushing function with the electrostatic adhesion function in a single integrated system. The interventional element simultaneously expands against the clot to push it to the vessel side for blood flow restoration while maintaining electrostatic attraction to ensure the clot adheres during withdrawal, eliminating the need for separate adhesion mechanisms and reducing retrieval attempts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 improves the adhesion of clot material to the interventional element, reducing the risk of secondary strokes by ensuring complete clot removal in fewer attempts and navigating complex vascular anatomy more effectively.

Implementation Method 1

supplying electrical current to the one or more electrodes causes the interventional element to positively charge, thereby attracting the clot material to the interventional element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS11395668B2Electrically enhanced retrieval of material from vessel lumens

Publication Date: 2022.07.26 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to a medical device. The device can include an elongate core member having a distal portion configured to be intravascularly positioned at a treatment site within a blood vessel lumen, and an interventional element connected to the distal portion of the elongate core member. The interventional element includes a body that is expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration and an electrically conductive radiopaque marker coupled to the body. An electrically conductive lead has a distal portion electrically coupled to the radiopaque marker and a proximal portion configured to be electrically coupled to a current source.