IVUS Catheter Flow-Guided Embolism Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluroscopy guided treatments for pulmonary embolism (PE) are inefficient and lack sufficient imaging capabilities to evaluate the completeness of blood clot removal, making them suboptimal for restoring critical blood flow.
Innovation Solution
An intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and flow guided embolic treatment system that includes a flexible elongated member with an ultrasound imaging component, a flow sensing component, and a treatment component, allowing for real-time imaging and blood flow measurement to guide and quantify the treatment of blood clots within blood vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fluroscopy is used to guide PE treatment, then the treatment can be performed with existing equipment, but the imaging capability is limited and the procedure is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fluroscopy (X-ray based imaging) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging technology. IVUS uses ultrasound waves to generate real-time images of blood vessels and clots from within the vessel lumen, providing superior imaging capability without the time-consuming setup and limitations of fluroscopy. This substitution enables faster, more accurate guidance of PE treatment procedures.
2Loss of information
If fluroscopy is used to guide PE treatment, then the equipment is readily available, but sufficient information for evaluating blockage removal completeness cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The IVUS catheter integrates multiple functions into a single device: imaging (ultrasound transducers), flow measurement (flow sensors), and treatment delivery (aspiration or fragmentation capabilities). This multi-functional approach provides comprehensive information for evaluating treatment completeness while avoiding the need for multiple separate devices and imaging modalities, thus reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If quantitative blood flow measurement is implemented, then treatment effectiveness can be assessed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines flow measurement sensors with the IVUS imaging catheter, integrating multiple sensing modalities into a single integrated device. This merging allows simultaneous acquisition of anatomical images and functional flow data, enabling precise assessment of treatment effectiveness without requiring separate complex measurement systems. The integrated design reduces procedural steps and device manipulation 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
This system provides efficient and effective treatment of blood clots by enabling precise imaging and quantitative assessment of blood flow, improving the completeness and effectiveness of PE treatment procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound imaging component positioned at the distal portion and configured to emit ultrasound energy towards a blood clot within the blood vessel and collect an image signal representative of the blood clot
Implementation Method 2
a flow sensing component positioned at the distal portion and configured to determine a blood flow measurement within the blood vessel associated with the blood clot
Data Source
AI summary
Embolism treatment devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an embolism treatment system includes a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a blood vessel of a patient, the flexible elongate member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion; an ultrasound imaging component positioned at the distal portion and configured to emit ultrasound energy towards a blood clot within the blood vessel and collect an image signal representative of the blood clot; a treatment component positioned at the distal portion and configured to treat the blood clot; and a flow sensing component positioned at the distal portion and configured to determine a blood flow measurement within the blood vessel associated with the blood clot.