Optical Catheter Treatment of Intravascular Occlusions by Plaque Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional devices for treating intravascular occlusions face challenges such as difficulty in navigating through total occlusions, inability to handle heterogeneous occlusions, and prolonged fluoroscopy exposure leading to radiation-related risks.
Innovation Solution
A catheter-based system with optical fibers that emit optical radiation for probing and treating occlusions, utilizing expandable elements to stabilize the catheter, and a pump to manage fluid flow, allowing real-time determination of occlusion composition and adapting treatment parameters for effective ablation, coagulation, or fragmentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional endovascular treatment devices are used to treat total occlusions, then treatment can be performed, but the success rate declines dramatically and procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical atherectomy devices with an optical field-based system. Optical fibers deliver focused light energy to the occlusion site, utilizing photothermal and photoacoustic effects to fragment and remove plaque, thereby treating total occlusions with higher success rates and shorter procedure times compared to mechanical drilling methods
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts irradiation parameters including wavelength, power level, and pulse duration based on real-time feedback from optical sensors. This adaptive parameter modification allows the system to optimize treatment effectiveness for different occlusion compositions and severities, improving success rates while reducing overall procedure time
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional treatment devices are used for heterogeneous occlusions, then treatment can be applied, but the devices cannot handle different material compositions effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates optical sensors that detect the composition and properties of the occlusion in real-time. Based on this feedback, the control system automatically adjusts irradiation parameters such as wavelength selection and power levels to match the specific material composition (e.g., calcified vs. soft plaque), enabling effective treatment of heterogeneous occlusions that conventional single-mode devices cannot handle
Solution Approach 2:
The optical treatment system is designed to treat multiple types of occlusion materials through a single unified platform. By varying optical parameters (wavelength, pulse duration, power density), the same device can effectively treat calcified plaque, soft plaque, thrombus, and other heterogeneous materials, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices
3Measurement precision
If fluoroscopy is used for detecting and treating occlusions, then real-time imaging is available, but radiation exposure increases leading to health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fluoroscopy-based imaging with optical imaging techniques. Optical fibers transmit light to the occlusion site and detect reflected or transmitted light to visualize plaque composition and treatment progress in real-time. This substitution eliminates ionizing radiation exposure while maintaining or improving imaging precision through optical methods
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes optical spectroscopy to detect characteristic absorption spectra of different occlusion materials. By analyzing how different materials absorb specific wavelengths of light, the system can identify plaque composition, vessel wall characteristics, and treatment effectiveness without requiring radiation-based imaging
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 efficient treatment of intravascular occlusions by adapting treatment based on occlusion properties, reducing procedure time and radiation exposure, and improving treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
treatment radiation for treating the occlusion, typically via a photothermal and/or photoacoustic effect
Implementation Method 2
treatment radiation for treating the occlusion, typically via a photothermal and/or photoacoustic effect
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are described for treating an occlusion in a blood vessel. A catheter is inserted into the blood vessel. An irradiation unit is driven to emit probing radiation such that the probing radiation is directed toward the occlusion, and returning radiation which is returned in response to the probing radiation impacting the occlusion, is detected. A composition of at least a portion of the occlusion is derived based on a signature that is indicative of the composition within the returning radiation. The irradiation unit is driven to irradiate the portion of the occlusion by emitting treatment radiation having a set of irradiation parameters. The set of irradiation parameters is determined to modulate between a photoacoustic effect of the treatment radiation and a photothermal effect of the treatment radiation, based on the composition of the portion of the occlusion. Other applications are also described.