Magnetic CTO Crossing Catheter for Wire Tip Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for treating chronic total occlusion (CTO) in coronary arteries are challenging due to the difficulty in passing a coronary wire across the lesion, requiring significant skill and risk of complications such as pericardial bleeding, and lack of direct visualization.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a small-diameter tube with a magnetic distal tip and a crossing wire with a ferromagnetic tip, utilizing magnetic attraction to facilitate alignment and insertion of the wire into the tube, enabling easier navigation through or around the plaque.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reverse CART technique is used to treat CTO, then stent implantation can be achieved, but the procedure becomes highly complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent implantation successVSAvoidprocedural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the magnetic guidance function from the complex reverse CART procedure by introducing a magnetic catheter that can be externally guided. This separates the wire crossing function from the complex manual manipulation required in reverse CART, simplifying the overall procedure while maintaining stent implantation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic catheter acts as an intermediary device between the operator and the occluded artery. By using external magnetic fields to guide the catheter, the patent creates a new mediation mechanism that replaces the complex manual wire manipulation of reverse CART, reducing procedural complexity while achieving the same therapeutic goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If reverse CART technique is used, then blood flow can be restored, but the procedure requires significant time and additional radiation exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow restorationVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wire manipulation system of reverse CART with a magnetic field-based guidance system. The magnetic catheter can be remotely guided through the artery using external magnets, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual wire crossing and reducing radiation exposure by minimizing fluoroscopy requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic catheter is pre-positioned and pre-oriented using external magnetic fields before entering the occluded artery. This preliminary magnetic guidance ensures the catheter is correctly positioned before attempting to cross the lesion, reducing the time required for multiple adjustment attempts and reducing overall procedural time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If wire crossing is performed without direct visualization, then the procedure can be performed, but the risk of pericardial bleeding increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire crossing capabilityVSAvoidpericardial bleeding risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic catheter system provides continuous feedback through magnetic field sensing and positioning information. Operators can monitor the catheter's position and orientation in real-time using external magnetic sensors, providing visual and tactile feedback that replaces the lack of direct visualization in traditional wire crossing, thereby reducing the risk of accidental perforation and pericardial bleeding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

The magnetic attraction simplifies the alignment and insertion of the crossing wire, reducing procedural complexity and risk, and allows for safe and efficient stent deployment.

Implementation Method 1

the distal tip including a magnetic element that generates a strong focal magnetic field; and a crossing wire having an elongated body and a distal tip, the distal tip of the crossing wire including a ferromagnetic element that is magnetically attracted to the distal tip of the small-diameter tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS20260014353A1Systems and methods for treating chronic total occlusion of an artery

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 BOARD OF RGT THE UNIV OF TEXAS SYST

AI summary

In one embodiment, a system includes a small-diameter tube having an elongated body, a distal tip, and an inner lumen that extends the length of the tube, the distal tip including a magnetic element that generates a strong focal magnetic field, and a crossing wire having an elongated body and a distal tip, the distal tip of the crossing wire including a ferromagnetic element that is magnetically attracted to the distal tip of the small-diameter tube when the distal tip of the crossing wire is placed in proximity to the distal tip of the small-diameter tube so as to facilitate alignment of the distal tips.