Helical Tubular Balloon Lumen Creation for Tortuous Artery Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheterization procedures face challenges in accessing blockages due to vessel tortuosity and insignificant stenoses, preventing the effective positioning of medical devices like angioplasty balloons and stents at desired locations within the cardiovascular system.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a tubular balloon that can transition between low-profile and high-profile operating modes, constrained in a generally helical shape by a matrix, to create a lumen within the body, enabling the insertion of medical devices past access obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a catheter is inserted into the body to access blockages, then the medical device can be positioned for treatment, but vessel tortuosity and insignificant stenoses prevent effective positioning at desired locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a low-profile operating mode during insertion to a high-profile operating mode at the target location. The expandable component dynamically changes its configuration, expanding radially to create a lumen that enables proper positioning of medical devices at desired locations within tortuous vessels or across insignificant stenoses.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable component is inserted in a compressed, low-profile state within a delivery catheter, similar to a nested doll structure. Once positioned at the target site, it expands outward to create the working lumen, allowing the system to navigate tortuous vessels while still providing adequate working space for device positioning.
2Ease of operation
If the catheter profile is kept low for insertion, then ease of insertion is improved, but the ability to create working space for device positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic transformation between two distinct operating modes. In the low-profile mode, the expandable component is compressed to minimize diameter for easy insertion through tortuous vessels. At the target location, it transitions to a high-profile mode where it expands radially to create sufficient working space (lumen) for positioning medical devices such as angioplasty balloons and stents.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable component is prepared in a compressed state within the delivery catheter before insertion. This preliminary compression allows the system to be inserted easily into tortuous vessels. Once positioned, the component expands to create the working lumen, separating the insertion phase from the working phase spatially and temporally.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing angioplasty includes accessing an artery, inserting a tubular balloon into to the artery in a low-profile operating mode, the tubular balloon constrained in a generally helical shape, and forming a lumen within the generally helical shape by expanding the tubular balloon into a high-profile operating mode. A system for creating a lumen is also disclosed.