Laser Catheter Pressure Sensor for Vascular Wall Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
During laser atherectomy, the increase in pressure within the vessel due to laser energy absorption can cause vascular wall damage, necessitating continuous monitoring of the intra-vascular pressure profile to prevent such damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating pressure sensors, such as piezoelectric materials like PVDF, into laser catheters to measure both radial and longitudinal pressure responses, allowing for real-time monitoring of pressure changes and adjustments in laser operation parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If laser energy is delivered to ablate plaque buildup, then atherectomy effectiveness is improved, but intra-vascular pressure increases causing vascular wall damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where pressure sensors continuously monitor intra-vascular pressure during laser atherectomy. When pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system automatically adjusts laser energy delivery parameters (power, pulse duration, frequency) to reduce pressure while maintaining adequate plaque removal. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by dynamically balancing ablation effectiveness against vascular wall protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes laser operating parameters (power level, pulse duration, repetition frequency) based on real-time pressure measurements. When pressure increases indicate approaching vascular wall damage, the controller modifies these parameters to reduce energy delivery intensity. This parameter adjustment strategy allows the system to maintain productive plaque removal while preventing harmful pressure buildup that could damage the vascular wall.
2Reliability
If pressure monitoring is implemented to prevent vascular damage, then patient safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the catheter system: laser delivery, pressure sensing, signal processing, and control are integrated into a single unified device. The pressure sensors are incorporated directly into the catheter structure, and the control system processes sensor signals and adjusts laser parameters through integrated circuitry. This merging approach improves patient safety through comprehensive monitoring while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it delivers laser energy for plaque ablation, monitors intra-vascular pressure, processes sensor signals, and controls laser parameters based on pressure feedback. This multi-functionality allows a single device to provide both therapeutic action and safety monitoring, improving patient reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity as each function shares common infrastructure (power supply, control circuitry, catheter structure).
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
Enables continuous monitoring of pressure changes within the vessel, preventing vascular wall damage by adjusting laser energy delivery based on measured pressure, thereby ensuring safer and more effective procedures.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating pressure sensors, such as piezoelectric materials like PVDF, into laser catheters to measure both radial and longitudinal pressure responses
Implementation Method 2
The absorbed energy may convert the medium from a liquid and/or solid into a gaseous state, which expands and raises the local pressure profile
Implementation Method 3
An alternative mechanism for tissue displacement may be the result of laser-induced plasma formation, yielding an expanding and collapsing molecular plasma with resulting shock waves
Data Source
AI summary
A laser catheter with a pressure sensor is provided according to embodiments of the invention. The pressure sensor may be coupled with the distal end of the laser catheter and may comprise any of various piezoelectric materials, for example Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF). In various embodiments of the invention the pressure sensor is configured to detect pressure longitudinally and coaxially. The pressure sensor may provide an electric potential that is proportional to the vessel pressure and may be used to monitor and/or adjust laser parameters. In other embodiments the results from the pressure sensor may be used to determine the vessel size and/or the type of material being ablated.