Laser Slotted Grabbing Device for Thrombectomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catheter-based thrombectomy technologies face challenges in effectively and efficiently removing blood clots and plaques from blood vessels while minimizing tissue damage and maintaining a small profile to reduce invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of grabbing devices with flexible scraping tubes, known as tractors, that feature engagement features configured to engage and remove obstructions by cutting, gouging, or scraping, which can invert over the catheter's distal end to capture and pull obstructions into the catheter, utilizing a conveyor-like motion and adjustable engagement features for various obstruction types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a catheter-based thrombectomy device is designed with a small profile to minimize tissue damage, then vascular injury is reduced, but the ability to effectively engage and remove blood clots and plaques is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The grabbing device is segmented into multiple engagement features (teeth, hooks, or barbs) distributed around the circumference of the flexible tube. This segmentation allows the device to effectively engage and remove clots and plaques while maintaining a small overall profile, as each segment contributes to the grabbing function without requiring a large single structure
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement features are configured to protrude radially outward from the flexible tube in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter. This dimensional arrangement allows the device to engage obstructions effectively while maintaining a compact longitudinal profile, enabling minimal invasive insertion while providing sufficient grabbing capability
2Length of moving object
If the catheter device maintains a small profile for minimally invasive procedures, then the incision size is reduced, but the engagement features have limited space to effectively scrape and remove plaque
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible tube is designed with localized engagement features (teeth, hooks, or barbs) at specific circumferential positions rather than uniform distribution. This local quality approach allows concentrated plaque removal capability at key locations while maintaining an overall small profile, optimizing the balance between device size and plaque removal effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible tube is designed to be dynamically deformable, allowing it to flex and adapt its shape during operation. This dynamic property enables the engagement features to effectively engage and scrape plaque from vessel walls despite the small overall profile, as the flexibility allows the features to conform to and interact with the obstruction
3Productivity
If engagement features are made more aggressive to improve clot removal, then plaque removal effectiveness increases, but tissue damage to the vessel wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement features are designed with adjustable parameters including tooth geometry, hook curvature, and barb angle, allowing optimization of the grabbing force. By carefully controlling these parameters, the device achieves effective plaque removal while limiting excessive force that would cause vessel wall damage, balancing removal efficiency with tissue protection
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
These devices enable efficient capture and removal of blood vessel obstructions with minimal tissue damage, allowing for effective plaque removal and clot extraction while maintaining a small profile to reduce vascular injury and facilitate less invasive procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A laser may be used to remove material from a tube to form engagement features of the tractor
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanical atherectomy and/or thrombectomy devices configured to remove obstructions (e.g., plaque material) of different consistencies and/or sizes from blood vessels. The devices may include a tractor comprising a flexible tube of material that inverts as it rolls over itself while being drawn into the open distal end of a catheter in a conveyor-like motion. The flexible tube can include features that facilitate engagement with the obstruction, enhance smooth tractor motion and/or promote movement control of the device within the blood vessel.