Rotatable Interventional Catheter with Selective Aspiration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current interventional catheter systems face challenges in safely and reliably removing material from internal body lumens without causing complications, such as inconsistent aspiration, limited flexibility, and high costs due to disposable nature, and the need for multiple catheter exchanges during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of interventional catheters with a rotatable and axially translatable drive shaft, differential cutting surfaces, and a control system that allows for selective aspiration and infusion, enabling precise material removal and reusability of control components, while providing consistent aspiration and adjustable torque settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple interventional catheters are exchanged during a single procedure to access different cutter assemblies, then various material removal properties can be utilized, but the operation time increases and the risk of complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple interchangeable cutter assemblies (e.g., different sized balloons, cutting balloons, scoring balloons) onto a single catheter shaft, allowing the operator to select and activate different cutter assemblies at the target site without withdrawing and reinserting the catheter. This merging of multiple functional elements into one device eliminates repeated insertion/removal cycles, reducing procedure time and complications while maintaining versatility in material removal approaches.
2Productivity
If cutter structures are made sharp and effective for material removal, then material removal efficiency improves, but the risk of damaging healthy tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs cutter structures with locally concentrated cutting elements (e.g., radially expandable cutting blades, scoring elements) that are activated only at the specific target site within the body. The cutting elements remain retracted or benign during navigation through healthy vessels, then expand or engage only when positioned at the obstruction. This localized activation ensures effective material removal at the lesion while minimizing exposure and damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (e.g., expandable balloon, controlled deployment system) between the cutter structure and the tissue. This intermediary allows the cutter to be delivered in a protected, non-damaging state through the vasculature, then activated at the target site to engage the obstruction. The intermediary controls the timing and location of cutter engagement, ensuring that sharp cutting elements contact only the intended target material and not healthy vessel walls.
3Ease of operation
If the interventional catheter is made small and flexible for navigation through tortuous vessels, then delivery capability improves, but the structural integrity for high rotational rates decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the catheter structure into distinct functional zones: a flexible distal section for navigation and delivery through tortuous vessels, and a reinforced proximal section that provides structural support for transmitting rotational torque to the cutter assembly. The segmented design allows each section to be optimized independently - the distal tip remains soft and compliant for vessel navigation, while the proximal shaft incorporates high-strength materials or structural features (e.g., braided reinforcement, increased wall thickness) to withstand high rotational speeds without twisting or collapsing.
4Reliability
If disposable systems are used to ensure sterility and operational convenience, then safety improves, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interventional system into disposable and reusable components. The catheter assembly including the cutter structures, balloons, and proximal shaft is provided as a sterile, single-use disposable component that is discarded after one procedure. The control mechanisms, drive systems, and external operating equipment are provided as reusable components that can be sterilized and used multiple times. This segmentation maintains sterility assurance through the disposable catheter while reducing overall system cost by allowing expensive control and drive mechanisms to be reused across multiple procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
An interventional catheter assembly has an operating head [400] and catheter system [300] that are inserted and navigated within a patient's body while an operator controls the system externally of the operating head. Fluidic communication is provided between the operating head and the external system controls, and rotation is provided to the operating head by means of an external drive system. Numerous system controls are provided, along with various operating systems, sealing assemblies, actuators, torque transfer systems, and the like are provided. Some systems and controls are provided in a control pod [200] and some controls, as well as displays, are provided in a console unit [100]. Control pod [200], catheter system [300] and operating head [400] may be provided as a sterile, single use interventional catheter system, while the console unit [100] may be provided as a multiple use device that communicates with the sterile, single use interventional catheter system during operation.