Single-Insertion Clot Retrieval With Guide-Catheter Aspiration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for treating thromboembolic disorders, such as pulmonary embolism, are either complex, cause vessel trauma, lack sufficient retaining structure, or require multiple invasive procedures to remove clot material effectively, leading to prolonged treatment times and patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A retraction and aspiration system that allows for repeated deployment and withdrawal of an interventional device through a guide catheter without full removal, using a lever mechanism to simultaneously generate negative pressure for aspiration and retract clot material, with a clot reservoir to collect and visualize the extracted material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Fogarty catheter is used to translate obstructing material back to the point of incision, then the occlusion can be removed, but the interior lining of the vessel may be damaged during catheter withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the catheter system into a guide catheter that remains in place and a removable interventional device. This allows the interventional device to be withdrawn without pulling on the vessel lining, as the guide catheter provides a protective pathway and maintains vessel access.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide catheter acts as an intermediary structure that remains in the vessel while the interventional device is removed. This intermediary provides a safe pathway for device insertion and withdrawal, protecting the vessel lining from direct contact with the withdrawing device.
2Reliability
If thrombolytic agents are infused to dissolve the clot, then the occlusion can be removed, but the treatment takes hours to days and may cause hemorrhage
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces chemical thrombolytic dissolution with a mechanical approach. The interventional device is advanced to the occlusion site and physically removes the clot through mechanical means such as aspiration, extraction, or disruption, achieving rapid clot removal without the prolonged wait times associated with chemical thrombolysis.
3Ease of manufacture
If the guide catheter is fully removed after each pass, then the interventional device can be cleaned and reused, but the procedure becomes more traumatic and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a permanent guide catheter and a removable interventional device. The guide catheter remains in the vessel throughout multiple passes, while only the interventional device is removed, cleaned, and reused. This segmentation allows for device reusability without requiring full catheter removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide catheter is preliminarily positioned and left in place before multiple interventional device passes. This preliminary action establishes a permanent access pathway that facilitates subsequent device insertions and withdrawals without repeated punctures and full catheter removals.
4Reliability
If multiple invasive procedures are performed to remove clot material, then thorough clot removal can be achieved, but patient trauma and procedural time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide catheter is preliminarily positioned and left in place to establish a permanent access pathway. This allows multiple interventional device passes to be performed through the same catheter without repeated invasive punctures, achieving thorough clot removal while minimizing patient trauma.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide catheter maintains continuous access to the treatment site throughout multiple passes. This continuity allows for repeated interventional device deployments without interrupting the therapeutic action, enabling thorough clot removal while reducing the number of separate invasive procedures needed.
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 efficient and repeated removal of clot material with reduced risk of reintroducing contaminants, minimizing patient trauma and procedural time by allowing multiple passes without fully removing the guide catheter.
Implementation Method 1
using a lever mechanism to simultaneously generate negative pressure for aspiration and retract clot material
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 method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, engaging an interventional device of a catheter system with clot material in a blood vessel and withdrawing the interventional device and the portion of the clot material through a guide catheter. In some embodiments, the catheter system can include an attachment/valve member coupled to a proximal portion of the guide catheter, and the method can include unsealing the attachment/valve member to facilitate withdrawing the interventional device through the attachment/valve member without significant retention of clot material within the attachment/valve member. The method can further include resealing and aspirating the guide catheter before advancing another interventional device to the clot material to again engage and remove clot material from the blood vessel.