Fluid-Infusing Aspiration Catheter Inner Member for Thrombus Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical catheters face challenges in efficiently aspirating dense thrombi while minimizing blood loss during the procedure, as they often unintentionally aspirate blood when the catheter tip is not fully engaged with the thrombus.
Innovation Solution
An aspiration system with an inner member configured to fit within the catheter lumen, featuring a rigid distal portion that can deploy outward to disrupt and segment thrombi, and a fluid flow mechanism to direct thrombus portions into the catheter lumen, while using controlled suction and fluid delivery to minimize blood aspiration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a standard aspiration catheter is used to remove thrombus, then the catheter can aspirate blood and thrombus material, but it unintentionally aspirates blood when the catheter tip is not fully engaged with the thrombus, increasing blood loss
Solution Approach 1:
The inner member is segmented into a collapsible body portion and a rigid distal portion, allowing selective deployment of the rigid portion to engage and segment the thrombus while the collapsible portion remains within the catheter lumen to prevent blood aspiration
Solution Approach 2:
The inner member acts as an intermediary tool deployed through the catheter lumen to facilitate thrombus engagement and segmentation, enabling the catheter to aspirate thrombus segments efficiently while minimizing blood loss through controlled fluid flow
2Productivity
If the catheter tip is advanced to engage dense thrombus, then thrombus aspiration efficiency improves, but the procedure time increases due to difficulty in aspirating dense material
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid distal portion mechanically segments dense thrombus into smaller, more aspiratable pieces, reducing the time required to remove the thrombus burden while maintaining engagement efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic advancement and retraction of the inner member to repeatedly engage and segment the thrombus, facilitating progressive removal without prolonged continuous engagement that would increase procedure time
3Productivity
If fluid is delivered proximal to direct thrombus into the catheter lumen, then thrombus aspiration efficiency improves, but blood may be aspirated along with the fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
Fluid is delivered through openings in the rigid distal portion at the specific location where thrombus is engaged, creating localized flow that directs thrombus segments into the catheter lumen without generating sufficient force to aspirate blood from the surrounding vasculature
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 the time required to aspirate thrombi and limits blood loss by mechanically breaking up thrombi and using proximal fluid flow to direct them into the catheter lumen, enhancing the efficiency and safety of the procedure.
Implementation Method 1
a clinician may direct a flow of a fluid, such as saline, from a plurality of openings defined by a proximal-facing surface of the rigid member, which may help direct portions of the thrombus into the distal opening of the catheter
Implementation Method 2
A suction force may be applied to the catheter lumen to aspirate the segmented thrombus portions into the distal opening of the catheter for removal from the vasculature
Data Source
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AI summary
In some examples, a medical system includes an aspiration catheter defining a catheter lumen; and an inner member configured to be received in the catheter lumen and extend distally outward from a distal opening of the catheter, wherein the inner member comprises an elongated support structure configured to move axially within the catheter lumen; and a rigid member at a distal portion of the elongated support structure, wherein a proximal-facing surface of the rigid member defines one or more openings configured to deliver a fluid into vasculature of the patient to dilute or displace a volume of blood aspirated from of vasculature through the catheter lumen.