Multiple-Burr Rotational Atherectomy for Small Vessel Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotational atherectomy devices struggle to efficiently treat stenotic lesions in small and tortuous blood vessels, such as those below the ankle or in the heart, due to limitations in navigation and orbital path effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A rotational atherectomy device with a torque-transmitting coil and multiple abrasive elements, including eccentric burrs, is designed to navigate through small arteries and achieve an orbital path for effective abrading, featuring a burr-to-coil diameter ratio of 1.3 to 1.7 and a flexible design for tortuous paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single large abrasive burr is used for rotational atherectomy, then effective abrasion of stenotic lesions is achieved, but navigation into small and tortuous vessels becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The single large abrasive burr is divided into multiple smaller abrasive elements (at least two abrasive burrs) with different diameters. This segmentation allows the device to navigate small and tortuous vessels more easily while maintaining effective abrasion capability through the combined action of multiple elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different abrasive burrs are positioned at different locations along the drive shaft with specific diameter variations. The larger burr handles more resistant lesion portions while smaller burrs navigate tighter vessel segments, providing localized adaptation to varying vessel and lesion characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple abrasive elements are added to improve navigation and treatment versatility, then adaptability to different vessel sizes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational atherectomy device is designed with multiple abrasive burrs of different diameters on a single drive shaft, enabling one device to treat vessels of varying sizes and tortuosity. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple separate devices while maintaining comprehensive adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple abrasive burrs are arranged along the length of the drive shaft in a nested configuration, with each burr positioned at a specific location. This nested arrangement allows compact packaging of multiple functional elements within a single device structure, managing complexity through organized spatial distribution.
3Productivity
If the abrasive burr diameter is increased for effective lesion removal, then productivity improves, but the ability to navigate tortuous routes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lesion removal function is segmented across multiple abrasive burrs of different diameters. Smaller burrs navigate tortuous paths effectively while larger burrs provide efficient abrasion capacity, and their combined action achieves complete lesion removal without requiring a single large burr to navigate tight turns.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple abrasive burrs positioned at different locations along the drive shaft enable continuous and comprehensive lesion treatment. As the device rotates and advances, different burrs engage different portions of the lesion, ensuring continuous effective abrasion throughout the treatment process.
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 enables efficient removal or reduction of stenotic lesions in small and tortuous vessels, providing improved navigation and treatment options in a single procedure, with enhanced safety and ease of operation.
Implementation Method 1
an elongate flexible drive shaft defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a torque-transmitting coil of one or more filars that are helically wound around the longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 2
At least one of the abrasive burrs can be an eccentric abrasive burr having a center of mass offset from the longitudinal axis so as to orbit in a rotational direction opposite of the filar wind direction
Implementation Method 3
the abrasive burr scrapes against the occluding lesion and grinds it into very small particles
Implementation Method 4
the abrasive burr scrapes against the occluding lesion and grinds it into very small particles
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments of a rotational atherectomy device can remove (partially or completely) stenotic lesions in blood vessels by rotating one or more abrasive elements in an orbital path to abrade and breakdown the lesion. In particular implementations, multiple abrasive elements are arranged along a distal portion of a drive shaft with an improved configuration so as to facilitate both efficient navigation into smaller blood vessels below the ankle or in the heart and effective orbital paths for abrading stenotic material in such smaller vessels.