Endoluminal Filter Echogenic Surface for Ultrasound Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoluminal filters face challenges such as tilting, migration, perforation of the vessel wall, support structure fracture, and limited retrievability, which compromise their filtration capacity and safety in preventing pulmonary embolism.
Innovation Solution
An endoluminal filter design with enhanced echogenic characteristics, including modified support members, tissue anchors, and surface features like dimples and protrusions, to improve visibility under intravascular ultrasound, combined with a retrieval feature on both ends for easy deployment and retrieval, and a shape memory material for secure vessel apposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional endoluminal filters are used, then embolic protection is provided, but visibility under ultrasound imaging is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies echogenic coatings and reflective surface features to the filter structure that specifically enhance ultrasound reflection and visibility. These surface modifications change the acoustic properties of the filter, making it highly visible under intravascular ultrasound imaging while maintaining its embolic protection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter combines conventional filtering materials with echogenic coating materials and reflective surface structures. This composite approach integrates the embolic protection function with enhanced ultrasound visibility, allowing both functions to coexist without compromising either.
2Stability of the object's composition
If hooks or barbs are used to fix the filter position, then device stability is improved, but vessel wall perforation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses shape memory material with locally differentiated properties - the material remains soft and compliant in most areas to prevent vessel wall damage, while specific localized regions are designed to engage with the vessel wall for stable positioning. This localized engagement eliminates the need for hooks or barbs.
Solution Approach 2:
The shape memory material changes its physical parameters (stiffness, shape) in response to temperature or other stimuli. When deployed, the material transitions from a compressed state to an expanded state that gently engages the vessel wall, providing stability without the need for penetrating fixation elements.
3Reliability
If the filter structure is made rigid to maintain filtration capacity, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and retrieval difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter structure is designed to be dynamic rather than statically rigid. The shape memory material allows the filter to maintain its expanded, rigid filtering configuration during use, then transition back to a compressed, low-profile state for easy retrieval. This dynamic behavior simplifies the retrieval mechanism while maintaining filtration effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The shape memory material provides multiple functions: it maintains structural rigidity for filtration, enables self-expansion for deployment, and facilitates retrieval through controlled contraction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate retrieval mechanisms and simplifies the overall device design.
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 enhanced filter provides stable filtration across varying vessel sizes, minimizes thrombosis, and facilitates easy retrieval, ensuring effective embolic protection with improved visibility and reduced migration risks.
Implementation Method 1
a shape memory material for secure vessel apposition
Implementation Method 2
enhanced echogenic characteristics, including modified support members, tissue anchors, and surface features like dimples and protrusions, to improve visibility under intravascular ultrasound
Data Source
AI summary
An endoluminal filter, comprising a first support member having a first end and a second end; and a second support member attached to the first end of the first support member or the second end of the first support member and forming a crossover with the first support member to form two loops one on either side of the crossover, wherein at least a portion of the first support member, the second support member, the first end, the second end or a region adjacent to the cross over or any portion of one of the above is modified to provide an enhanced echogenic characteristic of the endoluminal filter. A method of positioning a filter within a lumen, comprising advancing a sheath containing a filter through the lumen; deploying a portion of the filter from the sheath into the lumen to engage the lumen wall while maintaining substantially all of a material capture structure of the filter within the sheath; and deploying the material capture structure of the filter from the sheath to a position across the lumen, wherein any of the above steps are performed using an intravascular ultrasound system and the filter is modified to provided at least one echogenic characteristic.