Endovascular Plaque Excision System with Balloon Shunting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for carotid artery stenosis, such as carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS), face issues like cardiopulmonary risks, bleeding, restenosis, embolic events, and the need for long-term anti-platelet therapy, while lacking the ability to thoroughly excise plaques without invasive procedures or permanent implants.
Innovation Solution
An endovascular plaque excision system comprising a balloon catheter system with blood shunting, an endoscope device for visualization, and a laser for ablation, allowing for minimally invasive plaque removal under direct visual control, avoiding the drawbacks of CEA and CAS by providing thorough plaque excision and vascular wall protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is performed to achieve thorough plaque excision, then plaque removal completeness is improved, but surgical invasiveness and cardiopulmonary risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the open mechanical surgical system (CEA) with an endovascular system that uses a catheter-based mechanical stripping device. The stripping device is inserted through the femoral artery and advanced to the carotid lesion under fluoroscopic guidance, allowing plaque removal through a minimally invasive percutaneous approach rather than open neck incision, thus maintaining thorough excision while reducing surgical invasiveness and cardiopulmonary risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary blood shunt device that creates a controlled blood flow pathway during the procedure. The shunt allows blood to be diverted away from the treatment area during plaque stripping, providing a blood-free surgical field for better visualization and reducing embolic risks, while maintaining cerebral perfusion through controlled shunting mechanisms
2Ease of operation
If carotid artery stenting (CAS) is performed to achieve minimally invasive surgery, then surgical invasiveness is reduced, but restenosis and embolic events occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the plaque material entirely from the vascular lumen using a mechanical stripping device, rather than compressing it with a stent. The stripping device physically removes the atherosclerotic plaque from the carotid artery wall, extracting the obstructing material completely to prevent restenosis, while maintaining minimally invasive access through the femoral artery approach
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of plaque compression (which causes restenosis) into a beneficial complete removal process. By using the stripping device to completely excise the plaque rather than compressing it, the procedure eliminates the restenosis problem while maintaining the minimally invasive advantage. The controlled blood shunting also converts potential embolic harm into a controlled flow management benefit
3Reliability
If stent implantation is performed to maintain vascular channel, then blood flow is restored, but long-term anti-platelet therapy is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the plaque material completely from the vascular lumen, eliminating the need for stent implantation. By removing the obstructing plaque rather than compressing it with a stent, the procedure restores blood flow without leaving a permanent metal implant that would require long-term anti-platelet therapy, thus eliminating the harmful side effects of prolonged medication
4Manufacturing precision
If open surgical incision is made for CEA, then plaque excision is achieved, but scar and nerve injury occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the open mechanical surgical system (CEA with neck incision) with an endovascular system that uses a catheter-based mechanical stripping device. The stripping device is inserted through the femoral artery and advanced to the carotid lesion under fluoroscopic guidance, allowing plaque removal through a minimally invasive percutaneous approach rather than open neck incision, thus maintaining thorough excision while avoiding scar formation and nerve injury
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 enables thorough plaque excision with reduced risk of vascular injury and eliminates the need for long-term anti-platelet therapy, achieving results comparable to CEA while being minimally invasive, similar to CAS, and avoiding permanent implants.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting the laser generated by the laser generator to a selected position for the laser ablation of the plaque in the blood vessel
Implementation Method 2
the first balloon, the second balloon and the third balloon are arranged at a distal end and adapted for being inflated to block blood flow in the blood vessel
Data Source
AI summary
An endovascular plaque excision system (10), comprising: a balloon catheter system (13) adapted to be inserted into a blood vessel, the balloon catheter system (13) comprising a guide catheter, and a first balloon (131), a second balloon (132) and a third balloon (133) which are disposed at a distal end, the first balloon (131), the second balloon (132) and the third balloon (133) being adapted to be inflated to block the flow of blood in the blood vessel, and the second balloon (132) comprising a blood bypass unit; an endoscope device (12), which comprises an endoscope connecting pipe and an illumination unit and an image acquisition unit which are disposed at a distal end of the connecting pipe, and is adapted to be inserted into the blood vessel via the guide catheter to perform illumination and image acquisition; and an endarterectomy device (14), which comprises an operation unit disposed at a proximal end, an endarterectomy unit disposed at a distal end, and an endarterectomy connecting pipe for connecting the operation unit and the endarterectomy unit, and is adapted to enter the blood vessel via the guide catheter to perform an endarterectomy operation for plaque in the blood vessel.