Plaque Scraping Stent with Adjustable Diameter for Vascular Lesions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for removing atherosclerotic plaques from vascular lumens are challenging, particularly in thin or curved vessels, are costly, require complex operations, and involve high risks, making them unsuitable for treating ordinary lesions or hyperplastic intima in stents.

Innovation Solution

A plaque removal device comprising a push catheter, a plaque scraping stent with a mesh structure, a support tube, an elastic filter membrane, and a handle, allowing for adjustable outer diameter and precise control, enabling effective scraping of subintimal plaques without damaging normal vascular intima, with a filter membrane for plaque collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If atherectomy devices are used to cut or grind plaques, then plaque removal effectiveness is improved, but device cost and operational complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplaque removal effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the plaque removal function into two parts: the stent structure provides the scraping surface while the push catheter provides the driving force. This segmentation allows each component to be simpler while achieving the overall effect of effective plaque removal without requiring complex integrated atherectomy mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using rotating cutting blades that grind plaques (complex mechanism), the invention inverts the approach by using a stationary mesh stent that scrapes plaques during deployment (simpler mechanism). The plaque removal function is achieved through the normal stent expansion process rather than requiring a separate complex atherectomy system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If high-speed rotational atherectomy is used for highly calcified lesions, then plaque removal capability is improved, but operator skill requirements and device cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplaque removal capabilityVSAvoidoperator skill requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stent structure itself performs the plaque removal function during its normal deployment process. The mesh structure with sharp edges automatically scrapes plaques as it expands, eliminating the need for separate operator-controlled atherectomy devices and reducing skill requirements while maintaining effective plaque removal capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If rotary cutting devices are used to remove plaques, then plaque removal effectiveness is improved, but risk of damaging normal vascular tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplaque removal effectivenessVSAvoidrisk of damaging normal vascular tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh stent structure is designed with specific local qualities: the wires have sharp edges for effective plaque scraping, while the mesh geometry (50-250 micrometer openings) allows selective interaction with plaque material. This local quality differentiation enables effective plaque removal while the filter membrane captures debris to prevent embolization, reducing harm to normal tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If atherectomy is performed in thin or curved vessels, then plaque removal is achieved, but risk of coronary artery cutting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplaque removalVSAvoidrisk of coronary artery cutting

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is designed to be dynamically deployable, transitioning from a compressed low-profile state during delivery to an expanded state at the target site. This dynamic deployment allows navigation through thin or curved vessels in a safe compressed state, then provides effective plaque removal when expanded at the destination, reducing the risk of vessel damage during delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11793541B2Plaque removal device

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 SHANGHAI SIXTH PEOPLES HOSPITAL

AI summary

The invention discloses a plague removal device, comprising, a push catheter, a plaque scraping stent, a support tube, an elastic filter membrane, a guide catheter, and a handle, wherein the plaque scraping stent is a mesh structure sleeved outside the support tube, a distal end of the plaque scraping stent is fixed on a distal end of the support tube, a proximal end of the plaque scraping stent is fixed on a distal end of the push catheter, the support tube is sleeved inside the push catheter; a distance between the distal end of the push catheter and the distal end of the support tube is adjusted by the handle, so that an outer diameter of the plaque scraping stent is varied. The unique structure design of “tapered structure” in the present invention can ensure good compliance during the entry and withdrawal of the stent.