Resilient Wire Coil Thrombectomy for Reduced Vessel Wall Injury

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mechanical thrombectomy devices, such as stentrievers, exert significant radial force and lateral stiffness on vessel walls, leading to endothelial injury and perforation, particularly in smaller and more tortuous vessels, increasing the risk of adverse events during treatment of medium and large vessel occlusions.

Innovation Solution

A treatment device with a resilient wire coil interventional element that transitions from a radially compressed to an expanded configuration, applying less radial force and lateral stiffness, allowing for the removal of obstructions in bodily lumens by engaging with a varying outer diameter and eccentrically disposed windings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a stentriever radially expands to engage an obstruction, then the obstruction is secured to the stentriever for removal, but significant radial force and friction are exerted on the vessel wall causing endothelial injury and perforation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstruction engagement reliabilityVSAvoidvessel wall injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stentriever is divided into multiple discrete engagement elements (e.g., hooks, jaws, or clamps) spaced along its length, rather than a continuous radial structure. Each element independently engages obstruction material, distributing the engagement force and reducing concentrated stress on the vessel wall, thereby preventing endothelial injury while maintaining secure obstruction capture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement elements are designed with varying local properties - some elements may be sharper for penetrating soft clots, while others have broader contact surfaces for adherent material. The stentriever can have different engagement element configurations at different locations to match the specific obstruction characteristics, optimizing engagement while minimizing vessel wall trauma at each location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a tubular stentriever is used to treat large vessel occlusion, then the obstruction can be captured and removed, but the device adds lateral stiffness to the vessels causing subacute hemorrhagic hematoma

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstruction capture capabilityVSAvoidsubacute hemorrhagic hematoma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stentriever employs a flexible, low-profile delivery catheter and soft, compliant engagement elements that conform to the vessel wall geometry without imposing rigid lateral stiffness. The engagement elements can flex and adapt to the natural curvature and compliance of medium and small vessels, capturing obstructions while allowing the vessel wall to maintain its natural mechanical properties, thereby preventing subacute hemorrhagic hematoma formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If the stentriever is sized based on the larger proximal occluded vessel, then the stentriever can engage the obstruction, but the risks of vessel damage increase in smaller distal vessels with different diameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel size adaptabilityVSAvoidvessel damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stentriever incorporates adjustable or reconfigurable engagement elements that can dynamically adapt to different vessel diameters. The device may allow modification of engagement element spacing, size, or configuration to match the specific vessel and obstruction dimensions, enabling safe treatment across a range of vessel sizes without causing damage in smaller distal vessels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 reduces the risk of vessel damage and adverse events by minimizing force exertion on vessel walls, effectively removing obstructions in smaller and more flexible vessels with reduced trauma.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient wire formed into a coil having a plurality of windings adjacent to one another along a longitudinal dimension... transitioning from a radially compressed configuration to an expanded configuration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250331874A1Systems and methods for restoring blood vessel patency

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

Devices, systems, and methods for restoring or improving patency of bodily lumens by removing obstructions are disclosed herein. Various embodiments of the present technology are directed to a treatment system comprising an elongated shaft and a treatment device comprising a manipulation member and an interventional element at a distal portion of the manipulation member. In some embodiments, the interventional element comprises a resilient wire formed into a coil having a plurality of longitudinally adjacent windings. The interventional element can be configured to transition between a radially compressed configuration in which the windings are circumferentially aligned and radially expanded configuration in which the windings are circumferentially offset.