Looped-Wire Intraluminal Structure for Clot Entry and Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular devices struggle to effectively retrieve blood clots due to limitations in structural design, which affects their ability to capture and remove obstructions efficiently.
Innovation Solution
An intraluminal device with a unique configuration of looped and woven wires that form varying interstices to provide structural support and capture clots, transitioning between collapsed and expanded positions for delivery and clot retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the device uses a simple wire structure for clot capture, then the device complexity is reduced, but the structural support and clot capture effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the wire structure into multiple functional segments: a scaffold region with woven wires for structural support, and a clot capture region with looped wire pairs for clot engagement. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall device simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The wire structure transitions from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded operational configuration. In the expanded state, the looped wire pairs can dynamically open and close to engage and release clots, providing adaptive clot capture without requiring complex mechanical components
2Productivity
If the interstices between wires are made larger to allow clot entry, then the clot capture capability is improved, but the structural integrity of the device deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device applies different wire configurations to different regions: the scaffold region uses densely woven wires with small interstices for structural integrity, while the clot capture region uses looped wire pairs with larger interstices for clot engagement. This local differentiation allows large clot-capturing interstices without compromising overall structural strength
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines two different wire structures (woven scaffold wires and looped capture wires) into a single integrated device. The woven region provides structural strength while the looped region provides clot capture function, creating a composite structure that achieves both structural integrity and effective clot capture
3Ease of operation
If the device is made more flexible for navigation through blood vessels, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural support capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the wire structure into a flexible distal portion with looped wires for clot capture and a more structured proximal portion with woven scaffold for support. This segmentation allows the distal end to be flexible for navigation while the proximal end maintains structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The wire structure is designed to function as a flexible scaffold that can navigate through tortuous blood vessels. The woven wire configuration in the scaffold region provides flexibility similar to a flexible shell, allowing the device to conform to vessel geometry while maintaining structural support capability
Data Source
AI summary
In one exemplary embodiment, an intraluminal device may include elongated structure formed of a plurality of wires. The intraluminal device may also include a plurality of sets of looped wires longitudinally located at an intermediate area of the elongated structure and the plurality of sets may be spaced circumferentially about the structure and being configured to cooperate with each other to form a plurality of clot entry openings. At least one grouping of woven wires may be longitudinally located adjacent the intermediate area and the at one grouping of woven wires may be configured such that when an opening force is exerted on the elongated structure, the at least one grouping provides structural support to hold open first interstices between the plurality of sets of looped wires.