Multi-stranded Helical Medical Apparatus for Treating Calcified Lesions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical devices, such as balloon catheters and stents, face difficulties in effectively treating fibrous or calcified occlusions in vessels, as they often struggle to disrupt or soften these hardened lesions.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stranded apparatus with proximal and distal regions, twisted in a helical manner to form a tubular shape, where the distal regions can expand radially to engage and treat lesions, either through self-expansion or balloon-expansion, and may include attachment members for enhanced treatment, allowing for the delivery of medical components through a central lumen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional balloon catheters and stents are used to treat occlusions, then the procedure is simple and straightforward, but they are ineffective against fibrous or calcified occlusions
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus divides the treatment function into multiple separate strands (e.g., three strands) rather than using a single monolithic structure. Each strand can be independently configured with different treatments at its distal end (sharpened members, roughened surfaces, attachment members), allowing the system to address various types of occlusions simultaneously while maintaining overall structural simplicity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-stranded apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions within a single device structure. The strands can be configured with different distal end treatments (sharpened members for cutting, roughened surfaces for abrasion, attachment members for plaque removal) to address various types of occlusions (fibrous, calcified, soft plaque) making the device universally applicable to different pathological conditions
2Reliability
If a single-strand device is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot effectively disrupt hardened lesions
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment function is segmented across multiple strands, each capable of independent deployment and configuration. This segmentation allows the device to apply multiple mechanical actions (cutting, abrasion, removal) simultaneously to hardened lesions, significantly improving disruption capability while keeping each individual strand relatively simple in structure
Solution Approach 2:
Each strand is configured with specific local treatments at its distal end tailored to address particular aspects of the occlusion. The sharpened members provide localized cutting action, roughened surfaces provide localized abrasion, and attachment members provide localized plaque removal, creating zones of different mechanical properties along the strand length to optimize lesion disruption
3Adaptability or versatility
If the apparatus is designed with multiple strands for effective treatment, then treatment capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-stranded apparatus achieves universality by incorporating multiple treatment modalities within a single deployable device. Each strand can be configured with different distal end treatments (sharpened members, roughened surfaces, attachment members) to address various plaque types (fibrous, calcified, soft), allowing the device to adapt to different pathological conditions without requiring multiple separate devices
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus employs a nested configuration where the multiple strands are contained within a delivery catheter system. The strands can be deployed in a controlled manner from the catheter, with each strand nested within the overall device structure during delivery and then expanded or separated at the target site, managing complexity through hierarchical organization
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 apparatus effectively expands to treat fibrous or calcified lesions by disrupting or softening them, facilitating procedures that conventional devices may struggle with, while allowing for the simultaneous delivery of additional medical instruments.
Implementation Method 1
The distal region of at least one of the plurality of strands may be deployed in a self-expanding or balloon-expandable manner
Implementation Method 2
Inflation of the balloon is configured to radially expand at least one of the plurality of strands to facilitate treatment of the medical condition
Implementation Method 3
the plurality of strands are twisted in a generally helical manner to form a tubular shape
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments provide apparatus suitable for treating a medical condition at a target site. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a plurality of strands, each having proximal and distal regions, wherein the plurality of strands are twisted in a generally helical manner to form a tubular shape. The proximal and distal regions of each of the plurality of strands comprise a contracted configuration adapted for delivery to the target site. Further, the distal region of at least one of the plurality of strands comprises an expanded, radially deployed configuration adapted to facilitate treatment of the medical condition. The distal region of at least one of the plurality of strands may be deployed in a self-expanding or balloon-expandable manner.