Embolic Protection Filter with Sliding Joint and Dynamic Compression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During surgical procedures like catheter-based treatments, embolic particles such as thrombus, atheroma, and lipids can be dislodged, causing blockages in downstream vessels, leading to serious complications like stroke or death, and existing methods for reducing these risks are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
An embolic protection device comprising a filter, struts, a delivery wire, a sliding joint, and a flexible member, which can expand and contract to capture embolic particles, and is designed for safe deployment and retrieval, incorporating shape-memory materials and radiopaque components for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an embolic filter is deployed downstream to catch dislodged particles, then the risk of downstream blockages is reduced, but the complexity of the device and procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into multiple segments or cells that can independently expand and contract. Each segment contains struts that form a cage-like structure, allowing the filter to be delivered in a compressed state and then expanded at the target site. This segmentation enables the filter to capture embolic particles effectively while maintaining a low-profile delivery configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is nested within a delivery catheter during delivery, with the filter in a compressed state inside the catheter lumen. The delivery catheter acts as a container that protects the filter during navigation through vessels and allows for controlled deployment at the target site. This nesting approach simplifies the overall device configuration during delivery while enabling filter functionality when deployed.
2Reliability
If the filter is designed to capture particles effectively, then embolic protection is improved, but the difficulty of retrieving the filter without particle spillage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter incorporates dynamic elements such as a compression member that can actively compress the filter from an expanded state to a compressed state during retrieval. This dynamic compression mechanism ensures that particles captured within the filter are contained and cannot spill out during withdrawal. The filter transitions between states in a controlled manner, maintaining particle containment throughout the retrieval process.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter utilizes a flexible membrane or thin-walled structure that can deform during expansion and compression. This flexible structure allows the filter to be compressed into a low-profile configuration for retrieval while maintaining the integrity of the captured particles. The flexible material enables the filter to conform to the delivery catheter during retraction without compromising particle containment.
3Reliability
If the filter structure is made more complex to improve particle capture, then filtration effectiveness increases, but the device becomes harder to deliver through vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to transition between a compressed delivery profile and an expanded filtration profile. During delivery, the filter maintains a compact, low-profile configuration that can navigate through narrow vessels and catheters. At the target site, the filter expands to provide an effective filtration surface area for capturing embolic particles. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between filtration effectiveness and deliverability.
4Reliability
If the filter is expanded to capture particles, then protection effectiveness improves, but the risk of vessel trauma during deployment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is delivered in a pre-compressed, low-profile state through the delivery catheter to the target site before expansion. This preliminary compressed state minimizes interaction with the vessel wall during navigation and deployment. Once positioned at the target site, the filter is then expanded to its functional configuration to provide effective particle capture. This sequence of preliminary delivery followed by localized expansion reduces the risk of vessel trauma while maintaining protection effectiveness.
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 embolic protection device effectively traps embolic particles, reducing the risk of downstream blockages and complications by ensuring safe capture and retrieval, while minimizing vessel trauma and facilitating easy deployment and retraction.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating shape-memory materials and radiopaque components for enhanced functionality
Data Source
AI summary
An embolic protection device includes an expandable and contractible filter that can be supported by one or more struts. The struts can be connected to the filter or interwoven into the filter, so as to assist in the expansion and contraction of the filter. In one embodiment, the proximal ends of the struts connect to a joint that is fixed in position relative to a delivery wire, while the distal end of the filter connect to a joint that slides relative to the delivery wire.