Inverting Thrombectomy Apparatus With Knitted Tractor Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical thrombectomy devices face challenges in safely and effectively removing large and hard blood clots from blood vessels, particularly those that are difficult to grasp, which can obstruct blood flow and lead to serious health issues such as heart attacks and strokes.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical thrombectomy apparatus featuring an elongate inversion support catheter with a knitted tractor tube that inverts over its distal end, equipped with a helical spiral of teardrop-shaped links, allowing for the safe and effective removal of clots by inverting and pulling them into the catheter, reducing jamming and friction through a lubricious liner and optimized knitted pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mechanical thrombectomy device is used to remove large and hard clots, then the clot removal effectiveness is improved, but the force requirements and risk of vessel damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device inverts the traditional approach by using a tractor tube that rolls over the catheter tip and inverts into the catheter to pull the clot back, rather than pushing the catheter tip directly against the clot. This inversion mechanism reduces the force required while maintaining effective clot removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The device segments the clot removal function into distinct components: the tractor tube for grasping and rolling, the inversion mechanism for force reduction, and the puller for retrieval. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall force requirements while maintaining effectiveness
2Productivity
If a mechanical thrombectomy device is used to remove difficult to grasp clots, then the clot removal effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tractor tube is constructed as a flexible knitted tube that can roll and invert smoothly. This flexible shell design simplifies the device by using a single flexible component rather than complex mechanical grippers, while maintaining the ability to grasp and retrieve difficult clots
3Ease of operation
If the knitted tractor tube uses a helical spiral of teardrop-shaped links, then the rolling and inverting performance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knitted tube uses specific parameter changes in its construction - a helical spiral of teardrop-shaped links with alternating orientations. This parameter optimization improves rolling performance while the knitted structure itself simplifies manufacturing compared to rigid mechanical components
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 1E~1H
Figure 1I
AI summary
A mechanical thrombectomy apparatus for removing a clot from a vessel includes an elongate inversion support catheter having a distal end opening, an elongate puller extending within the support catheter, and a knitted tractor tube extending over an outer surface of the support catheter, inverting into the distal end opening of the support catheter, and attached to the elongate puller at a first end within the support catheter, wherein the portion of the knitted tractor tube extending over the support catheter comprises a wire forming a helical spiral of alternating teardrop shaped-links each having a rounded apex, wherein each link is connected to two adjacent links so that the apex of each link is on an outward-facing surface of the tractor tube, wherein the links flare outward from an outer wall of the support catheter when the puller is pulled proximally within the support catheter.