Optical Catheter Head for Precise Cerebral Blood Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for measuring blood flow through cerebral tissue face challenges such as distortion and trauma due to the need for deep penetration, limited precision in measuring internal brain areas, and potential for tissue damage from conventional catheter designs.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with a specially designed catheter head and optical fiber for emitting and receiving light, featuring a recess with a light exit surface and reflection surface for focused light delivery and absorption, along with a drainage channel for minimal trauma insertion and pressure monitoring, allowing for precise measurement of blood flow with minimal tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a catheter probe is inserted into cerebral tissue to measure blood flow, then measurement capability is achieved, but tissue trauma and distortion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (contrast agent) that enhances the optical properties of the tissue, allowing light to penetrate deeper and interact more effectively with blood vessels. This intermediary enables better measurement without requiring more aggressive mechanical insertion, thus reducing tissue trauma while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical measurement approaches with optical measurement methods. By using light sources and detectors to measure blood flow through optical properties rather than mechanical contact, the system achieves measurement capability without the tissue trauma associated with conventional mechanical catheter insertion and pressure application.
2Measurement precision
If light beam passes through skin and skull cap to reach cerebral tissue, then deep tissue measurement is enabled, but measurement signal is weakened and distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the light beam by using specific wavelengths (e.g., red light around 630-680 nm) that are optimally transmitted through tissue. It also adjusts the intensity and duration of light exposure to enhance signal strength while minimizing distortion from passing through multiple tissue layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a contrast agent as an intermediary that enhances the optical signal from cerebral blood vessels. This intermediary substance increases the absorption and scattering characteristics of blood, making the measurement signal stronger and less distorted when light passes through the skin and skull cap to reach deep cerebral tissue.
3Measurement precision
If conventional catheter design is used for insertion, then measurement function is achieved, but permanent tissue damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement systems with optical systems. Instead of using catheters that physically contact and apply pressure to tissue, the system uses light sources and detectors to non-invasively measure blood flow parameters, thereby achieving measurement function without causing permanent tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible optical fibers and thin film structures that can be gently integrated into tissue without causing damage. These flexible components allow the measurement system to conform to tissue contours while maintaining measurement capability, avoiding the rigid catheter designs that cause permanent damage.
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
Enables accurate and non-distorting measurement of blood flow through deep-lying cerebral tissue with minimal trauma, allowing for reliable and precise assessment of blood flow rates and tissue conditions, including temperature and pressure, while maintaining a compact and flexible design for easy insertion.
Implementation Method 1
an optical conductor (32) inside the catheter (1, 2, 3, 4)
Implementation Method 2
a light source (45) for emitting a beam of light into the body tissue by means of the optical conductor
Implementation Method 3
a beam of light reflected from the body tissue is fed back through the optical conductor (32) to the processing unit
Data Source
AI summary
A device for measuring the blood flow of a body tissue comprises a catheter having a catheter head for the insertion into the inside of a body tissue and a center piece having a light emission surface, out of which an optical conductor leads, and having a reflection surface, which is disposed opposite of the light emission surface and oriented obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the optical conductor. The optical conductor is disposed such that an emitted light beam is directed at the reflection surface, the emitted light beam can be deflected at the reflection surface and reflected into the body tissue, and a reflected light beam can be reflected out of the body tissue at the reflection surface and fed into the optical conductor. The catheter head is divided into an insertion region and a connecting region, wherein the insertion region comprises a plurality of recesses on the surface thereof. In the direction of the connecting region, the insertion region has an increasing diameter. The recesses are provided in the insertion region such that webs are formed in the direction of the connecting region between the recesses along the surface of the catheter head.