Intravenous Filter Wire with Infusion Capability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism are invasive, costly, and carry risks such as excessive bleeding and complex surgical procedures, particularly for removable inferior vena cava filter placement and removal.

Innovation Solution

A vascular filter system involving a dispensing needle and filter wire dispenser that allows for minimally invasive placement and removal of a filter wire in a vein, which coils to form a filter, enabling capture of blood clots without the need for complex surgical procedures or imaging guidance, and includes a medication infusion capability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional IVC filter placement is used, then blood clot migration prevention is achieved, but the procedure requires complex surgical operations, large bore catheters, and carries high bleeding risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclot migration preventionVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is divided into multiple detachable segments that can be deployed sequentially through a needle. The filter wire is segmented into multiple coils that expand to form the filter structure, allowing minimally invasive placement without requiring complex surgical procedures or large bore catheters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter placement procedure extracts the necessary functionality from complex surgical operations. The filter can be deployed through a simple needle insertion into a vein, eliminating the need for surgical incisions, large bore catheters, and complex surgical techniques while maintaining effective clot migration prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If removable IVC filter is used, then filter removal flexibility is provided, but removal requires complex surgical procedures and extended recovery time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter removal flexibilityVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is designed with dynamic deployability and retractability. The filter wire can be deployed through needle insertion and subsequently retrieved by pulling the wire through the same needle, allowing flexible removal without requiring complex surgical procedures or extended recovery time. The dynamic nature of the filter enables same-day placement and removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If anticoagulation therapy is used, then blood clot formation is reduced, but excessive bleeding risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood clot preventionVSAvoidexcessive bleeding risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using anticoagulation therapy that increases bleeding risk, the invention converts the approach by using a mechanical filter that physically captures clots. The filter wire with its coil structure creates a physical barrier that intercepts blood clots before they can cause pulmonary embolism, eliminating the need for anticoagulation therapy and its associated bleeding risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Reliability

If thrombectomy is used, then clot extraction is achieved, but vascular damage risk increases and the procedure is technically difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclot extractionVSAvoidvascular damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is deployed preliminarily in the vein before any clot migration can occur. By placing the filter wire with its coil structure into the vein through needle insertion, the filter creates a preventive barrier that captures clots as they form or migrate, eliminating the need for subsequent thrombectomy procedures and associated vascular damage risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

5Reliability

If thrombolysis is used, then clot dissolution is achieved, but bleeding at other sites may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclot dissolutionVSAvoidbleeding at other sites

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using thrombolysis medication that can cause bleeding at other sites including the brain, the invention converts to a mechanical approach. The filter wire physically captures and retains clots through its coil structure, eliminating the need for systemic thrombolytic medication and its associated risk of bleeding complications at distant sites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS8961557B2Intravenous filter with fluid or medication infusion capability

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 BATISTE STANLEY

AI summary

A vascular filter system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the filter system comprises a dispensing needle releasably attached to a filter dispenser which stores a length of filter wire. The filter wire dispenser has a guide tube which guides the filter wire into the needle and then into a vein during surgical implantation. The filter wire is configured to coil into a predetermined shape as it is deployed from the needle. The shape of the filter wire captures blood clots in the blood stream. The filter wire is configured with a perforated section and a non-perforated section. Perforations are in fluid communication with an inner hollow lumen in the filter wire. A hub assembly attaches to an end of the filter wire that is external to the body to provide a port into the lumen for application of medication into the lumen and out the perforations.