Single-Lumen Microcatheter with Side Holes for Embolic Plug Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical catheters face challenges in efficiently delivering liquid embolic agents to brain arteriovenous malformations, including difficulty in forming a proximal plug, reflux issues, and prolonged procedural times, leading to suboptimal treatment and increased radiation exposure.
Innovation Solution
A single-lumen micro-catheter with side holes or a hydrogel coating near the distal end, combined with valve technology, allows for targeted delivery and formation of a plug, reducing reflux and enabling effective embolic agent penetration with reduced radiation exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dual-lumen devices are used to dispense balloon and deploy embolic agent simultaneously, then efficiency and task execution are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into functionally distinct segments: a distal segment with side holes for embolic agent delivery and a proximal segment for balloon inflation. This segmentation allows single-lumen design to perform dual functions that traditionally required dual-lumen construction, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a longitudinal delivery approach (traditional single-lumen) to a radial delivery approach through side holes. This dimensional change in embolic agent delivery enables plug formation at the distal tip while maintaining single-lumen simplicity, avoiding the complexity of dual-lumen simultaneous delivery.
2Device complexity
If traditional single-lumen catheters are used for embolic agent delivery, then device simplicity is maintained, but plug formation capability and reflux control are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates side holes at a specific location (distal segment) with different functional properties than the proximal segment. This local quality change enables targeted embolic agent delivery to form a plug at the distal tip, improving reliability while maintaining overall device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter design预先 positions side holes at the distal segment to enable preliminary plug formation before full embolic agent delivery. This preliminary action ensures proper plug formation and reflux control, enhancing reliability without complicating the device structure.
3Loss of time
If embolic agent is delivered without proper plug formation, then procedural time is reduced, but treatment effectiveness and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The side holes enable continuous embolic agent delivery that simultaneously forms a plug and treats the target lesion. This continuous useful action eliminates the need for separate plug formation steps, reducing procedural time while ensuring treatment effectiveness through consistent agent delivery.
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
Facilitates faster plug formation, reduces procedural time, and minimizes radiation dosage while ensuring consistent and effective embolic agent delivery to the target lesion.
Implementation Method 1
a thin layer of hydrogel adhered along the entire circumference of the catheter... The hydrogel can be such that it expands after a certain amount of time exposed to blood, or with a certain electrical magnetic signal, or with infusion of a certain triggering liquid
Implementation Method 2
Liquid embolic agents are the preferred embolic material in endovascular treatment... PHILTM (Precipitating Hydrophobic Injectable Liquid, MicroVention® Terumo)
Data Source
AI summary
A device using side holes which creates a plug upstream of the distal-most portion of said micro-catheters and thereby ameliorates the suboptimal outcomes associated with creating a plug upstream of a distal end hole via injecting embolics only at the distal-most portion of said catheters.