Rotatable Tissue-Removing Catheter for Angular Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tissue-removing catheters face challenges in achieving precise angular positioning within body lumens, which can lead to inefficient tissue removal and potential complications during procedures like atherectomy.

Innovation Solution

A tissue-removing catheter with a rotatable tissue-removing element and an angular-positioning mechanism that allows for adjustment of the element's position relative to the catheter body, enabling precise angular positioning within the body lumen through a motor-driven system and sensor feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a tissue-removing catheter uses a fixed tissue-removing element position, then the device structure is simple, but the angular positioning precision within the body lumen is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular positioning precisionVSAvoidcatheter structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter employs a rotatable first longitudinal body portion that can rotate relative to the second longitudinal body portion, transforming the fixed position system into a dynamic adjustable system. This allows the tissue-removing element to achieve different angular positions within the body lumen, improving angular positioning precision while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through controlled rotational movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces angular positioning as an additional degree of freedom by allowing rotation of the first longitudinal body portion around the longitudinal axis. This adds a rotational dimension to the otherwise linear catheter structure, enabling precise angular control of the tissue-removing element without fundamentally complicating the basic catheter architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the tissue-removing element is fixed relative to the catheter body, then the device is easier to manufacture, but the tissue removal effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue removal effectivenessVSAvoidcatheter manufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable first longitudinal body portion provides dynamic adjustability for optimizing tissue removal effectiveness. The ability to rotate and position the tissue-removing element at different angles allows clinicians to adapt to various anatomical configurations and plaque locations, improving productivity. The manufacturing complexity increase is moderate, involving primarily rotational joints and positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables change in the angular parameter of the tissue-removing element relative to the catheter body. By allowing the first longitudinal body portion to rotate, the system can adjust the angular position parameter to optimize tissue removal effectiveness for different procedural requirements, while the underlying catheter structure remains relatively simple to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the catheter lacks an angular-positioning mechanism, then the device complexity is low, but the risk of procedural complications increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedural safetyVSAvoidcatheter mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable first longitudinal body portion with angular positioning capability enhances procedural safety by allowing precise control over the tissue-removing element's orientation. This dynamic positioning reduces the risk of unintended tissue damage and improves procedural reliability, while the mechanical rotation mechanism maintains reasonable device complexity without requiring overly complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3102128B1Tissue-removing catheter with improved angular tissue-removing positioning within body lumen
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 COVIDIEN LP
  • EP3102128B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3102128B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3102128B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tissue -removing catheter for removing tissue from a body lumen includes a tissue-removing element. The tissue -removing element may be coupled to a first longitudinal body portion of the catheter body. The first longitudinal body portion may be rotatable along its length and relative to a second longitudinal body portion to adjust the angular position of the first longitudinal body portion relative to the second longitudinal body portion. An angular-positioning mechanism may be operatively connected to the tissue -removing element for rotating the tissue -removing element relative to the second longitudinal body portion about a rotational axis to adjust an angular tissue-removing position of the tissue -removing element, relative to the longitudinal axis of the body lumen, from a first angular tissue -removing position to a second angular tissue -removing position offset from the first angular tissue -removing position.