Monolithic Thrombectomy Device with Nested Expandable Treatment Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical thrombectomy devices are cumbersome, prone to unintentional separation, and ineffective in capturing small emboli, with large profiles that prevent treatment of distal small diameter vessels, and lack enhanced embolus affinity and visibility, limiting their effectiveness in restoring blood flow during ischemic stroke.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical thrombectomy device made from a single piece of biocompatible tubing with a guidewire-like delivery portion and an expandable treatment portion, featuring a flow block feature, radiopaque markers, and surface modifications for improved embolus affinity, allowing seamless transition and reduced risk of detachment, and enabling navigation through tortuous vasculature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing mechanical thrombectomy devices use separate pieces requiring joints or bonding, then assembly flexibility is improved, but device reliability deteriorates due to unintentional separation
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery portion and treatment portion are integrated into a single piece of biocompatible material, eliminating joints or bonding interfaces. This merging resolves the technical contradiction by maintaining assembly flexibility through monolithic construction while dramatically improving device reliability by removing potential separation points between components.
2Reliability
If treatment portion is cut from larger material than delivery system, then treatment efficacy is improved, but device complexity worsens requiring larger access systems
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment portion is nested within the delivery system during delivery, allowing the device to pass through smaller access systems. Upon deployment, the treatment portion expands to its full functional size. This nesting approach resolves the contradiction by enabling effective treatment capability while reducing the profile required for delivery through tortuous vasculature and small access systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded treatment configuration. The treatment portion dynamically changes size - small during delivery through the catheter, then expands at the target site to provide adequate treatment surface area and structural integrity for effective embolus removal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If device profile is reduced for distal vessel treatment, then adaptability is improved, but device strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates localized structural features including radiopaque markers for visibility, surface modifications for enhanced embolus affinity at specific zones, and optimized strut configurations in different segments. This local quality approach allows the device to maintain overall strength while adapting to smaller distal vessels, as each section is optimized for its specific function without compromising overall structural integrity.
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 device provides a strong, compact, and effective solution for embolus removal with reduced risk of clot breakage and migration, enhanced embolus capture, and improved visibility, enabling treatment of smaller vessels with lower delivery force and smaller access systems.
Implementation Method 1
The expandable member is made from a single piece of biocompatible material and has a compacted configuration and an expanded configuration
Implementation Method 2
radiopaque markers
Implementation Method 3
surface modifications for improved embolus affinity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B
AI summary
A mechanical thrombectomy device system is disclosed that is made from a single piece of biocompatible material, including a proximal flow block portion/feature, and/or, a flow block feature in the device body portion, a guidewire like delivery portion and an expandable, treatment portion. The construction of the device from a single piece allows for a seamless transition from the delivery portion to the treatment portion, thus removing any joints or bonding of the two portions together as separate pieces. This improves the strength of the system as a whole and greatly reduces the possibility of the two parts unintentionally detaching from each other. Likewise, the distal treatment portion is cut from a piece of material the same size as the proximal delivery portion, allowing the device to be compacted to a similar size profile giving it delivery advantages including a lower delivery force required and requiring small access systems, and the treatment portion's surface can be altered to enhance embolus affinity by either coating with a substance or changing the texture by mechanical or chemical means.