Microcatheter Coil Cutting via Electrical Severing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating vascular aneurysms face challenges in accurately delivering and detaching endovascular coils, leading to risks of under-filling or over-filling the aneurysm, which can result in recurrence, expansion, or thrombus formation, and are associated with detachment mechanism failures and increased procedural time and cost.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a flexible microcatheter with a detachment mechanism that applies electrical current to cut a desired length of coil, allowing for precise coil delivery and reduction in detachment steps, using a coil-cutting apparatus with electrodes and a spring beam to sever the coil within the microcatheter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional detachment mechanisms are used to release coils from the microcatheter, then coil delivery can be achieved, but the risk of detachment mechanism failure and coil/microcatheter migration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex detachment mechanism entirely from the system. Instead of using a detachment mechanism to release the coil, the coil is simply advanced through the microcatheter and left in place, eliminating the source of detachment failures and migrations while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The microcatheter serves multiple functions: it delivers the coil to the target site and simultaneously acts as the final positioning device. The coil is advanced through the microcatheter lumen and deployed at the distal end, combining delivery and deployment functions into a single straightforward process without requiring separate detachment mechanisms
2Reliability
If multiple coils are placed in the aneurysm to ensure proper filling, then the aneurysm occlusion improves, but the risk of coil protrusion and thrombus formation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical detachment mechanisms with electrical current application. The coil is advanced through the microcatheter and held in place by friction or gentle engagement, then severed and detached by applying electrical current at the distal end, eliminating the need for complex mechanical detachment systems that cause migration and failure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of the coil from continuous to segmented by applying electrical current to sever it at the distal end. This allows precise control of the coil length deployed into the aneurysm, ensuring optimal filling without over-packing that would cause protrusion and thrombus formation
3Ease of operation
If each coil requires a detachment step to be released from the microcatheter, then coil delivery can be achieved, but the procedural time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is pre-formed and loaded into the microcatheter in a compressed state before the procedure. During the procedure, it is simply advanced and deployed, eliminating the need for complex detachment operations. The electrical current severing is a quick final step that does not require complex mechanisms or additional time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical detachment operations with electrical current application. The coil is advanced through the microcatheter and held by simple friction or engagement, then quickly severed and released by applying electrical current, dramatically reducing the time and complexity of the detachment step
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 approach enables optimal aneurysm occlusion by ensuring proper coil filling, reducing the risk of detachment failures, minimizing microcatheter displacement, and shortening procedure time, while eliminating stiff detachment junctions present in prior devices.
Implementation Method 1
The detachment mechanism may be configured to apply electrical current to the coil in order to cut a section of the coil arranged at the distal end of the microcatheter
Implementation Method 2
The spring beam may be configured to move between an active position in which the spring beam is configured to press the coil-cutting electrode against a portion of the endovascular coil extending distally from the cylindrical base, and a rest position
Data Source
AI summary
An endovascular device, including an elongated flexible sheath defining a lumen with an inner opening sized for enabling selective advancement of an endovascular instrument therethrough, the sheath having at least a first region and a second region; an electrode within the first region of the sheath; and a constrictor associated with the first region of the sheath, the constrictor being configured, while at least the first region and the second region of the sheath are positioned within a body and in response to an input received from outside the body, to reversibly narrow the lumen of the sheath in an area adjacent the electrode to thereby bring the electrode into contact with an adjacent portion of the endovascular instrument.