Retrofittable Infusion Catheter Filter with Expandable Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional filtration methods for preventing emboli during infusion procedures, such as vena cava filters and integral catheter filters, are either semi-permanent and require additional procedures for removal or are costly and unnecessary if not used, lacking a cost-effective and easily deployable solution for temporary filtration at the infusion site.
Innovation Solution
A filtration device with a deformable filter sleeve and a rigid control sleeve that can be retrofitted onto an infusion catheter, allowing for expansion and contraction of the filter's radial footprint, enabling temporary filtration at the infusion site and easy removal post-procedure, utilizing a metallic mesh filter medium and a stop collar for adjustable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a semi-permanent filter is implanted within the vena cava to prevent emboli from entering the heart or lungs, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of the procedure increases due to the need for subsequent removal procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The filter device employs a dynamic structure that can transition between a low-profile delivery configuration and an expanded filtration configuration. The expandable filter element is compressed within a delivery catheter for minimally invasive insertion, then expanded at the target site to provide effective filtration. This dynamic transformation allows the filter to be deployed and removed as a single integrated procedure, eliminating the need for separate implantation and removal procedures while maintaining filtration effectiveness throughout the infusion process.
2Reliability
If conventional filtration devices are used to capture emboli during thrombolytic infusion, then patient safety is improved, but the cost and procedural complexity increase due to the need for permanent implants or specialized equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The filter device is designed as a multi-functional integrated system that combines the filtration function with the infusion delivery function. The same delivery catheter system is used to both administer the thrombolytic agent and provide emboli filtration, eliminating the need for separate specialized filtration equipment. This universal design approach maintains patient safety through effective filtration while reducing overall procedural costs by utilizing a single integrated device rather than multiple separate components.
3Reliability
If a filter is placed close to the infusion site to capture dislodged clot pieces, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for integral integration with the infusion catheter
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is nested within the delivery catheter in a compact, space-efficient configuration. The expandable filter is contained within the catheter lumen or attached to the catheter wall in a collapsed state during delivery, then deployed outward at the target site. This nesting arrangement allows the filtration function to be integrated close to the infusion site without significantly increasing the overall device complexity, as the filter utilizes the existing catheter structure for support and delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
An infusion system includes an infusion catheter defining a fluid passage extending between a proximal catheter end and a distal catheter end, and having a plurality of infusion ports in communication with the fluid passage and defining an infusion zone. A filtration device is provided which may be retrofitted upon the infusion catheter and includes a filter sleeve coupled to a slidable control sleeve. The filter sleeve is deformable between a first configuration having a radially contracted footprint and a second configuration having a radially expanded footprint, responsive to sliding the control sleeve over the infusion catheter such that the deformable filter sleeve buckles outwardly from the infusion catheter.