Movable Energy Guide for Targeted Intravascular Lithoplasty

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vascular lesion treatments, such as lithoplasty, face challenges in effectively treating severe calcified lesions and achieving optimal vessel patency, and there is a need to enhance therapy delivery parameters within lithoplasty catheter systems.

Innovation Solution

A catheter system with a movable energy guide that includes an energy source that generates energy that creates a localized plasma within the balloon to crack calcification at a treatment site within the vasculature that includes one or more vascular lesions and balloon to crack calcification at a treatment site within the vasculature that includes a balloon fluid within the balloon to crack calcification at a treatment site within the balloon to crack calcification at a treatment site within the vasculature that includes a balloon to create a localized plasma within the balloon to impart a fracture force on the intravascular calcium, which is opposed to the balloon wall, which is opposed to the balloon wall, which is opposed to the balloon to impart a fracture force on the intravascular lesion is the balloon to induce fractures in the vascular lesions within the balloon to impart a fracture force on the intravascular lesion is the balloon to impart a fracture force on the intravascular lesion is the balloon to induce a fracture force on the intravascular lesion is the balloon to impart a fracture force on the intravascular lesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed energy guide is used in lithoplasty treatment, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to treat different regions of calcified lesions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to treat different regions of calcified lesionsVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The energy guide is made movable relative to the guide shaft through a drive mechanism, allowing it to be dynamically repositioned along the treatment site. This enables the energy guide to adapt to different regions of calcified lesions while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through controlled movement rather than multiple fixed components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If multiple energy guides are used to treat different regions, then the coverage of treatment area is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment area coverageVSAvoidnumber of energy guides
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using multiple fixed energy guides simultaneously, the invention employs a single energy guide that can be moved to different positions along the treatment site. This dynamic approach achieves comprehensive treatment area coverage while avoiding the complexity of managing multiple energy guides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the energy guide is made movable to treat different regions, then the adaptability is improved, but the control precision requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment region flexibilityVSAvoidenergy guide positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates a drive mechanism with control systems that provide feedback to maintain precise positioning of the movable energy guide. This feedback control ensures accurate energy delivery to targeted lesion regions while allowing the energy guide to be repositioned for treating different areas of calcified deposits.

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 system effectively fractures vascular lesions by generating pressure waves using sub-millisecond pulses of energy, enhancing vessel patency and optimizing therapy delivery by selectively moving the energy guide to treat calcified and fibrous lesions.

Implementation Method 1

a high energy source is used to generate plasma and ultimately pressure waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasma: Plasma

Implementation Method 2

generate plasma and ultimately pressure waves as well as a rapid bubble expansion within a fluid-filled balloon to crack calcification

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure wave: Shock Wave

Implementation Method 3

The rapid change in fluid momentum upon hitting the balloon wall is known as hydraulic shock, or water hammer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic shock: Fluid Hammer

Data Source

PatentEP4057927B1Dynamic lithoplasty device with movable energy guide
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 BOLT MEDICAL INC
  • EP4057927B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4057927B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4057927B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a blood vessel (108) within a body (107) of a patient (109), the treatment site (106) having a proximal region (106P) and a distal region (106D), includes an energy source (124), a guide shaft (118), and an energy guide (122A). The energy source (124) generates energy. The guide shaft (118) is positionable adjacent to the treatment site (106). The energy guide (122A) receives energy from the energy source (124). The energy guide (122A) is movably coupled to the guide shaft (118). The energy guide (122A) includes a guide distal end (122D) that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the treatment site (106). The guide distal end (122D) of the energy guide (122A) is selectively movable relative to the guide shaft (118) and adjacent to and between the proximal region (106P) and the distal region (106D) of the treatment site (106) while the energy guide (122A) receives energy from the energy source (124).