Sliding Suction Catheter Tip for Remote Cerebral Thrombectomy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing catheter systems face challenges in navigating the tortuous and narrow cerebral arteries to effectively remove clots and emboli, which are critical for treating acute stroke due to the time-sensitive nature of restoring blood flow.

Innovation Solution

A suction catheter system comprising a guide catheter and a slidable suction extension with a distal tip that can adjust its position within the guide catheter lumen, allowing for enhanced suction power and access to narrow vessels, combined with an elastic delivery catheter for delivering medical devices to treatment locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a catheter system uses a fixed suction tip within the guide catheter, then the structure is simple, but the suction power is insufficient and cannot access narrow vessels effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuction powerVSAvoidcatheter structure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction tip is designed to be slidable within the guide catheter lumen, allowing it to move between retracted and extended positions. This dynamic configuration enables the catheter to adapt to different procedural needs: when retracted, the structure remains simple; when extended, the suction tip can reach narrow vessels and provide enhanced suction power for effective clot removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the catheter system uses a narrow suction tip to access small cerebral vessels, then vessel access is improved, but suction power is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel access capabilityVSAvoidsuction power

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter system is divided into two functional segments: a guide catheter with a larger lumen that provides structural support and suction power, and a separate suction tip with a smaller diameter that can navigate narrow cerebral vessels. The suction tip slides within the guide catheter, allowing the system to combine the vessel access capability of a narrow tip with the suction power generated by the larger guide catheter lumen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If aspiration catheters are used alone to remove clots, then the procedure is simple, but emboli generated during the procedure cannot be captured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure complexityVSAvoidembolic protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter system merges the clot removal function of aspiration catheters with the embolic protection function of embolic protection devices into a single integrated system. The suction tip can capture both clots and emboli simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate devices and procedures while providing comprehensive protection against embolic complications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the suction tip extends fully from the guide catheter, then access to remote vessels is maximized, but the risk of vessel damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereach to target locationVSAvoidvessel damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction tip is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be extended to the distal end of the guide catheter when access to remote vessels is required, and retracted when the risk of vessel damage needs to be minimized. The operator can control the extension and retraction of the suction tip based on the specific procedural needs and vessel conditions, optimizing both reach and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The system provides effective clot removal and embolic protection in cerebral arteries with minimal vessel damage, enabling rapid reperfusion and improved clinical outcomes by maintaining strong suction power and facilitating device delivery to challenging vascular locations.

Implementation Method 1

applying suction through the suction lumen of the suction catheter system positioned with the guide catheter extending into a vessel of a patient in a percutaneous configuration, to draw fluid into the distal opening of the suction tip to remove thrombus from the vessel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS12521523B2Catheter systems for applying effective suction in remote vessels and thrombectomy procedures facilitated by catheter systems

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 WORLD VASCULAR INC

AI summary

A suction catheter system is described with a suction nozzle that can extend from a guide catheter of the like. The suction nozzle can be positioned by tracking the suction nozzle through a vessel while moving a proximal portion of the suction extension within the lumen of the guide catheter. A suction lumen extends from the proximal end of the guide catheter through at least part of the guide catheter central lumen and through the suction tip. Desirable suction flow can be established using the guide lumen to facilitate the suction. Also, a delivery catheter is described with an elastic tip that can track closely over a guidewire. The elastic tip of the delivery catheter can be expanded to provide for the delivery of medical devices past the tip.