Fluid-Infusing Aspiration Catheter for Thrombus Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
During medical aspiration procedures, especially for removing thrombi from blood vessels, there is a significant challenge in minimizing blood loss due to the aspiration of blood when the catheter tip is not fully engaged with the thrombus, leading to high volumes of unintentional blood aspiration, which can be exacerbated with larger bore catheters.
Innovation Solution
A medical aspiration system that includes a catheter with a fluid controller and control circuitry to introduce a fluid, such as saline, into the catheter lumen between suction applications, reducing blood aspiration by displacing it back into the vessel, and cycling between suction and fluid delivery to minimize blood loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a larger bore catheter is used to remove thrombus, then the efficiency of thrombus removal is improved, but the volume of blood aspirated unintentionally increases
Solution Approach 1:
A displacement fluid (saline or contrast material) is introduced as an intermediary substance into the catheter lumen to push back blood that has been aspirated, preventing it from exiting through the distal end. This mediator fluid allows the system to maintain high aspiration flow rates for efficient thrombus removal while redirecting blood back into the vessel, thereby reducing net blood loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic principles by introducing a fluid stream in the opposite direction to counterbalance the aspiration flow. The displacement fluid creates a counter-flow that pushes aspirated blood back into the vessel, leveraging fluid dynamics to resolve the contradiction between high aspiration efficiency and blood loss reduction.
2Productivity
If suction force is continuously applied to aspirate thrombus, then the productivity of thrombus removal is improved, but the amount of blood aspirated increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic or continuous introduction of displacement fluid during suction applications to create a cyclical pattern of aspiration and displacement. This periodic action allows blood to be pushed back into the vessel during displacement phases while maintaining aspiration force during thrombus engagement phases, reducing net blood loss while preserving thrombus removal productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement fluid is introduced continuously or near-continuously during suction applications to maintain a constant counter-balancing force that prevents blood loss. This continuous useful action ensures that while thrombus is being aspirated efficiently, blood is simultaneously being pushed back into the vessel, eliminating the trade-off between productivity and blood loss.
3Ease of operation
If aspiration is applied when catheter tip is not fully engaged with thrombus, then the ease of operation is improved, but the volume of unintentional blood aspiration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement fluid acts as a mediator that corrects the harmful effect of premature or excessive aspiration. When the catheter tip is not fully engaged with the thrombus, aspiration still occurs but the displacement fluid pushes the aspirated blood back into the vessel, allowing operators to apply suction more freely without excessive blood loss concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful effect of unintentional blood aspiration into a beneficial outcome by using the displacement fluid to push the aspirated blood back into the vessel. The harm of blood loss is transformed into a controlled process where blood is aspirated and then returned, allowing easier operation without net blood loss.
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 system effectively reduces blood loss during aspiration procedures by ensuring that blood is displaced back into the vessel when suction is not actively engaged, thereby minimizing the volume of blood aspirated and enhancing the efficiency of thrombus removal.
Implementation Method 1
a suction source configured to apply a suction force to the catheter to aspirate a material proximate the distal end of the catheter and from within the vasculature of the patient
Implementation Method 2
a fluid controller configured to control an introduction of a fluid into the catheter between the proximal and distal ends to reduce an amount of blood aspirated from a blood vessel of the vasculature of the patient through the catheter
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a medical system includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a suction source configured to apply a suction force to the catheter to aspirate a material proximate the distal end of the catheter and from within vasculature of the patient, and a fluid controller configured to control an introduction of a fluid into the catheter between the proximal and distal ends to reduce an amount of blood aspirated from a blood vessel of the vasculature of the patient through the catheter.