Low Profile Embolic Protection Filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional catheters and devices used in percutaneous procedures for treating heart valves and vascular interventions often cause unwanted separation of plaques, thrombus, and calcium deposits from vessel walls, leading to embolization and serious complications such as ischemia and stroke, due to their high profile and scraping action.
Innovation Solution
An embolic protection system comprising a low-profile catheter with an expandable filter and actuator that captures embolic material, deployed with a dilator and introducer, allowing for safe navigation through diseased vessels and prevention of embolization by retaining embolic material within the filter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional high-profile catheters are used for percutaneous procedures, then the catheter can be advanced through the vasculature to treat heart valves, but the catheter causes unwanted separation of plaques, thrombus, and calcium deposits from vessel walls leading to embolization
Solution Approach 1:
An embolic protection device is introduced as an intermediary component between the catheter and the vessel wall. This device includes a filter or capture mechanism that intercepts embolic materials (plaques, thrombus, calcium deposits) before they can embolize downstream, while still allowing the catheter to advance through the vasculature for its intended therapeutic purpose
Solution Approach 2:
The embolic protection device is deployed in advance before the therapeutic catheter is fully advanced. The protection device is positioned first to establish a barrier, then the therapeutic catheter is advanced through or alongside it, ensuring that any embolic materials separated during the procedure are captured before they can cause harm
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional high-profile instruments are used for vascular interventions, then the instruments can perform therapeutic functions, but the instruments increase the risk of plaque and thrombus separation from vessel walls
Solution Approach 1:
The embolic protection device is designed to be nested within or alongside the therapeutic catheter system. The protection device can be collapsed into a low-profile configuration for delivery, then expanded at the target site to provide embolic protection while the therapeutic catheter performs its function through the same access pathway
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system is segmented into distinct functional components: an embolic protection segment (filter or capture device) and a therapeutic segment (valve treatment or other intervention device). This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together as an integrated system
Data Source
AI summary
An example embolic protection system and method of deploying an embolic protection device are provided. An example embolic protection system for deploying a device in a diseased vessel of a vasculature comprises an embolic protection device including a catheter shaft and an expandable filter provided at a distal end of the catheter shaft. The expandable filter includes a side port provided in a side wall of the expandable filter and a filter actuator located at or towards a proximal end of the embolic protection device. The filter actuator is operable to open and close a mouth of the expandable filter. A snare guide wire is also provided in some examples.