Expandable Intravascular Catheter with Incising Struts for Plaque Fragmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravascular catheters lack an effective mechanism to selectively fragment atherosclerotic lesions during angioplasty procedures, and there is a need for a stable, maneuverable catheter platform for endovascular surgery that can deliver various medical treatment tools.
Innovation Solution
An intravascular catheter with an expandable portion featuring struts and an incising element, allowing for controlled expansion and contraction to create incisions in atherosclerotic material, and a stable platform for receiving medical treatment tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a balloon catheter is used to dilate the narrowed vessel lumen, then the vessel lumen is dilated and plaque is compressed, but the atherosclerotic lesions cannot be fragmented effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single catheter device: the expandable portion can both dilate the vessel lumen (like a balloon catheter) and fragment atherosclerotic lesions through incising elements with blades. This merging allows the device to perform both compression and fragmentation functions that were previously separate procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable portion transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded working state, dynamically changing its diameter and configuration. This dynamic expansion allows the incising elements to deploy blades that extend radially outward to create incisions in the plaque, enabling lesion fragmentation while maintaining vessel dilation
2Adaptability or versatility
If an expandable portion with incising elements is added to the catheter, then the capability to fragment lesions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable portion serves multiple functions: it acts as a scaffolding structure that supports incising elements, provides a platform for delivering various medical treatment tools, and maintains vessel patency through its expanded configuration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter employs a nested structure where the expandable portion with incising elements is contained within a delivery catheter during insertion. The incising elements themselves are nested within the expandable portion, allowing compact delivery followed by sequential deployment of functions, thereby managing complexity through hierarchical organization
3Ease of operation
If the catheter is made maneuverable for endovascular surgery, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability of the catheter platform may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter transitions from a flexible, maneuverable delivery state to a stable, expanded working state. The expandable portion provides structural stability when deployed, creating a rigid platform that can support medical treatment tools, while the delivery catheter remains flexible for navigation through blood vessels
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is divided into distinct segments: a flexible delivery catheter for navigation and an expandable portion with struts that forms a stable platform when deployed. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function - the delivery catheter provides maneuverability while the expanded portion provides stability
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for the treatment of intravascular medical conditions is provided. The device comprising a handle assembly, an expandable portion defined by a plurality of struts oriented along a longitudinal axis and a tip member affixed to a distal end of the struts. The struts are moveable between a collapsed and an expanded position. A catheter tube extends from the handle assembly to the expandable portion. An elongate member is disposed within the catheter tube and is in communication with the handle assembly and the tip member.