Electrostatic Thrombectomy Stent for Clot Retention
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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 dislodgement and detachment during retrieval, particularly at bifurcations and tortuous anatomy, leading to secondary strokes and incomplete clot removal.
Innovation Solution
The use of an electrically enhanced thrombectomy system that positively charges an interventional element using a current generator, applying direct current to attract negatively charged clot components, combined with aspiration and specific waveform delivery to improve clot adhesion and reduce the risk of new clot formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a stent is used to mechanically push and drag the clot through the vasculature, then the procedure is easy to perform and can restore blood flow, but the clot may detach from the stent during retrieval, especially at bifurcations and tortuous anatomy, causing secondary blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical stent-clot interaction with an electrostatic field-based retention system. Electrodes on the stent deliver electrical signals that create electrostatic forces to hold the clot, substituting mechanical friction and physical entanglement with electrical field forces for more reliable retention during retrieval through tortuous anatomy and bifurcations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the stent by applying electrical signals that alter its surface charge properties. The stent transitions from a neutral mechanical structure to an electrostatically active device that can dynamically adjust its charge to match the clot's charge characteristics, optimizing retention forces during different phases of retrieval
2Reliability
If tPA is injected through an intravenous line to break down the clot, then clot dissolution can occur, but it takes time for tPA to reach the clot and only begins to break up the clot once it reaches the clot material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electrical signals as an intermediary mechanism to accelerate clot breakdown. Instead of relying solely on tPA to chemically dissolve the clot, electrical fields are applied directly to the clot through the stent electrodes, creating an additional pathway for clot disruption that acts immediately rather than waiting for tPA diffusion and chemical action
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies electrical signals to the clot before or during stent deployment to pre-soften or pre-disrupt the clot structure. This preliminary electrical action prepares the clot for easier mechanical retrieval and reduces the time needed for complete clot resolution by combining electrical and mechanical approaches
3Speed
If the stent is expanded against or enmeshed within the clot to push it to the side of the vessel, then blood flow can be re-established, but the clot may not sufficiently adhere to the stent as it is withdrawn, particularly when passing through bifurcations and tortuous anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical adhesion (friction, entanglement, and physical interlocking) with electrostatic adhesion. Electrical signals create electrostatic forces between the stent and clot that are more reliable than mechanical forces alone, especially when the stent needs to navigate bifurcations and tortuous anatomy where mechanical grip may be lost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the electrical charge parameters of the stent to optimize adhesion at different stages. The stent can adjust its charge magnitude and polarity to match the clot's charge characteristics, creating optimal electrostatic attraction forces for reliable adhesion during withdrawal through complex vascular geometry
4Reliability
If multiple retrieval attempts are needed to fully retrieve the clot, then complete clot removal can be achieved, but the procedure duration increases and the risk of secondary strokes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrical signals that change the physical properties of the clot, making it more compliant and easier to retrieve in a single attempt. By altering the clot's structural parameters through electrical field application, the device enables complete removal in one pass rather than requiring multiple attempts, reducing procedure time and embolism risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary clot softening or disruption using electrical signals before the main retrieval action. This pre-treatment prepares the clot for easier single-pass removal, eliminating the need for multiple retrieval attempts and the associated delays and risks
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 enhances the attachment of clot material to the interventional element, reducing the number of retrieval attempts and minimizing the risk of downstream embolism, thereby improving the efficiency and safety of clot removal while preventing secondary strokes.
Implementation Method 1
The use of an electrically enhanced thrombectomy system that positively charges an interventional element using a current generator, applying direct current to attract negatively charged clot components
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 include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal current generator. Delivery of current to the interventional element can be gradually ramped up during initialization to improve patient comfort and safety.