Self-Expandable Funnel Catheter Thrombectomy for Cerebral Clot Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thrombectomy devices face challenges such as thrombus fragmentation, secondary embolism, prolonged revascularization time, and navigability issues in tortuous vessels, particularly with fibrin-rich and calcified clots, which are difficult to remove using stent retrievers or aspiration methods.
Innovation Solution
A thrombectomy system utilizing a self-expandable funnel catheter combined with a clot-mobilizer, which restricts blood flow and aspirates clots effectively, especially in tortuous cerebral vasculature, by deploying the funnel proximal to the occlusion site or at the thrombus site, and using suction to capture and remove clots without further fragmentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If stent retrievers or aspiration methods are used to remove thrombi, then recanalization can be achieved, but thrombus fragmentation and secondary embolism occur
Solution Approach 1:
A guide balloon catheter is introduced as an intermediary device to slow or stop blood flow in the internal carotid artery during thrombectomy. This mediator creates a controlled environment that allows the stent retriever and aspiration catheter to be advanced distally to the thrombus site without causing thrombus fragmentation or secondary embolism, while still achieving effective recanalization
2Productivity
If large-gauge catheters are used to navigate close to the thrombus, then aspiration capability is improved, but navigability in tortuous vessels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system is segmented into multiple components: a guide balloon catheter for navigation through tortuous vessels, a stent retriever for thrombus capture, and an aspiration catheter for thrombus removal. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the guide balloon for navigability and the aspiration catheter for aspiration capability
Solution Approach 2:
The devices are nested within each other - the stent retriever and aspiration catheter are advanced through the guide balloon catheter to the thrombus site. This nested configuration allows large-gauge aspiration catheters to reach distal thrombus locations while the outer guide balloon catheter provides navigability through tortuous vessels
3Productivity
If multiple devices are used for thrombectomy, then revascularization efficacy is improved, but device complexity and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide balloon catheter, stent retriever, and aspiration catheter are merged into a coordinated system that works synergistically. The guide balloon catheter provides the platform for delivering the stent retriever and aspiration catheter, while all three devices work together to achieve thrombectomy in a single integrated procedure, improving revascularization efficacy without proportionally increasing complexity
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 provides superior revascularization efficacy, reducing secondary embolism and procedure time, particularly effective in capturing hard clots like fibrin-rich ones, by adapting to vessel geometry and maintaining clot capture during aspiration.
Implementation Method 1
The funnel is self-expandable and configured to adapt at least its shape to a surrounding blood vessel... to slow or stop blood flow
Implementation Method 2
suction can be applied to a funnel catheter extending proximally from the funnel so that the funnel aspirates clots and clot fragments
Data Source
AI summary
A method of extracting a thrombus from a thrombus site in a cerebral artery of a patient by advancing a first catheter into an internal carotid artery of the patient; advancing a funnel catheter within the first catheter; moving the funnel catheter and the first catheter with respect to each other to place the funnel outside of the first catheter; expanding the funnel into contact with an inner wall of the internal carotid artery at or proximal to a distal end of a carotid siphon, thereby reducing blood flow past the funnel; advancing a clot-mobilizer distally through the first catheter toward the thrombus and beyond the carotid siphon; engaging thrombus material from the thrombus with the clot-mobilizer; moving the clot-mobilizer and thrombus material proximally at least partially into the funnel; applying suction to aspirate thrombus material; and moving the funnel, the clot-mobilizer and the thrombus material proximally within the vasculature.