Lesion Crossing Shock Wave Catheter with Coplanar Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catheter designs face challenges in crossing tight or total occlusions in vasculature, particularly due to their profile and lack of a bipolar electrical circuit for generating shockwaves within an inflatable balloon.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with a low-profile angioplasty balloon at the distal end, incorporating a shock wave generator with coplanar electrodes and a reinforced wire sheath, allowing for shockwave generation within a conductive fluid-filled balloon to treat occlusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional catheter design with balloon is used, then the balloon can shield tissue and maintain conductive fluid, but the profile is too large to cross tight occlusions
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into separate functional segments: the shock wave generator with coplanar electrodes is separated from the balloon, allowing the balloon to be positioned distally while the generator remains proximal. This segmentation enables the balloon to provide tissue shielding without increasing the profile at the occlusion site, as the electrodes are integrated into the catheter shaft rather than requiring a large distal assembly.
2Length of moving object
If shock wave generator is placed at guidewire tip, then profile is reduced, but the soft tip cannot be pushed through blockage and unipolar design requires patient as electrical circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The shock wave generator is extracted from the guidewire tip and repositioned to a proximal location on the catheter shaft. This extraction allows the guidewire tip to remain soft and maneuverable for crossing occlusions, while the shock wave generation function is performed by the coplanar electrodes on the catheter body. The bipolar electrode configuration also eliminates the need to use the patient as part of the electrical circuit.
3Length of moving object
If coplanar electrodes are used in low-profile balloon, then shockwave generation is enabled, but electrode spacing is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode arrangement transitions from a radial configuration to a coplanar configuration, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the catheter shaft. The coplanar electrodes are positioned side-by-side along the length of the shaft rather than radially around the circumference, allowing adequate spacing between electrodes while maintaining a low-profile balloon diameter. This dimensional change enables sufficient electrode gap distance for effective shock wave generation without compromising balloon profile.
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
Enables effective treatment of tight and total occlusions by providing a low-profile design that can maneuver through narrow vasculature and generate shockwaves efficiently, while maintaining a closed system for electrode protection and tissue shielding.
Implementation Method 1
shock wave generators are fired to produce shock waves that direct acoustic waves into the lesion
Implementation Method 2
produce shock waves that direct acoustic waves into the lesion
Implementation Method 3
The balloon is inflated with conductive fluid to contact the lesion and then shock wave generators are fired
Implementation Method 4
The balloon can be made of material having elastomeric properties such that it returns to its original low profile configuration when it is deflated following treatment
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D~1E
AI summary
The present invention provides a catheter for treating occlusions in blood vessels. The catheter includes at least one electrode pair (222, 243) positioned inside of a flexible angioplasty balloon (280) at the distal end of the catheter (200). In some designs, the electrode pairs are arranged in a low-profile or coplanar configuration, reducing the diameter of the distal end of the device and permitting treatment of tight and hard-to-cross occlusions. The flexible angioplasty balloon (280) has an extremely low profile and does need to be folded before insertion of the catheter into the cardiovascular system. During treatment, the balloon (280) can be expanded a relatively small amount sufficient to immerse the electrode pairs (222, 243) in a conductive fluid before generating shock waves across the electrodes to treat the occlusion. The balloon (280) can be made of material having elastomeric properties such that it returns to its original low profile configuration when it is deflated following treatment.