Self-Expanding Clot Retriever for Low-Trauma Vascular Occlusion Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating vascular occlusions, such as thromboembolic disorders, are either invasive, risky, or inefficient, often causing trauma to the vessel and failing to completely remove clot material.
Innovation Solution
A self-expanding clot treatment device with interconnected struts that can transition between compressed and expanded configurations, featuring larger and smaller cells to capture and retain clot material, is used in conjunction with a delivery catheter system to facilitate safe and effective removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If surgical embolectomy with Fogarty catheter is used, then clot material can be removed, but the vessel interior lining may be damaged and the procedure is traumatic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical balloon inflation/deflation system with a self-expanding framework system that uses shape memory alloy or elastic memory properties to automatically expand and capture clots without requiring traumatic balloon inflation, thereby removing the need for repeated catheter manipulations that damage the vessel lining
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a delivery catheter as an intermediary that safely transports the collapsed framework to the treatment site, then allows the framework to self-expand within the vessel to capture clots, and finally enables safe withdrawal of the delivery catheter without direct contact between the withdrawal action and the vessel wall, thus mediating the interaction to minimize trauma
2Ease of operation
If percutaneous balloon angioplasty is used, then vessel stenosis can be treated, but occlusive material is not removed and restenosis occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the treatment function into two distinct phases: (1) the self-expanding framework segments the occlusive material by capturing it within its structure, and (2) the delivery catheter system segments the removal process by allowing the framework to be withdrawn with captured clots, thereby achieving complete clot removal rather than just compression
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the occlusive material from the vessel by having the self-expanding framework capture and retain the clots within its structure, then physically removing the entire framework-with-clots assembly from the vessel, thereby taking out the harmful occlusive material rather than merely compressing it in place
3Reliability
If thrombolytic agents are used, then clot can be dissolved, but the process takes hours to days and hemorrhage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical thrombolytic dissolution process with a mechanical capture and removal system, where the self-expanding framework physically traps and extracts clots from the vessel, eliminating the time-consuming chemical dissolution process and associated hemorrhage risks while achieving immediate clot removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent directly extracts occlusive material from the vessel using the self-expanding framework that captures and retains clots, then removes the framework with captured clots from the body, thereby taking out the harmful material immediately rather than waiting for chemical dissolution over hours or days
4Device complexity
If simple withdrawal devices are used, then the device structure can be simple, but the user may pull through the clot and incomplete removal occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The self-expanding framework performs the capture function automatically through its own elastic memory or shape memory properties that cause it to expand and engage clots without requiring complex active control mechanisms, thereby achieving effective clot capture with relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The framework employs varying cell sizes in different regions - larger cells in some areas for initial clot engagement and smaller cells in other areas for secure retention - creating local quality variations that enhance clot capture effectiveness without requiring complex overall device structure
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for the intravascular treatment of clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient are disclosed herein. A device in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a plurality of interconnected struts forming a unitary structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The struts can form a plurality of first cells in the proximal portion and a plurality of second cells, smaller than the first cells, in the distal portion. The device can be pulled against clot material within a blood vessel to engage, disrupt, and/or capture the clot material.