Superheating Balloon Fluid for Vascular Lesion Fracture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for vascular lesions, such as drug therapy, balloon angioplasty, and stent placement, often require subsequent interventions and may not effectively achieve patency, posing a risk for major adverse events like myocardial infarction and stroke.
Innovation Solution
A catheter system with a superheating system that heats a balloon fluid to induce spontaneous vaporization, generating inertial bubbles and acoustic pressure waves to fracture vascular lesions, utilizing a combination of optical fibers and resistive heating elements to direct energy efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional treatments (drug therapy, balloon angioplasty, stent placement) are used to treat vascular lesions, then the lesions can be addressed to some extent, but the treatments often require subsequent interventions and may not effectively achieve patency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transition of the balloon fluid from liquid to vapor through rapid heating, generating inertial bubbles and acoustic pressure waves that mechanically disrupt vascular lesions. This phase transition mechanism enables a single intervention to achieve effective patency that conventional methods cannot accomplish alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical balloon expansion with a superheating system that uses optical energy (laser) converted to thermal energy, which then generates acoustic pressure waves for lesion disruption. This substitution of mechanical system with optical-thermal-acoustic system enables more effective single-stage treatment.
2Power
If the balloon fluid is heated rapidly to achieve spontaneous vaporization and generate inertial bubbles, then high-pressure acoustic waves are generated to fracture lesions, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the balloon system: the balloon serves as both the expansion device and the containment chamber for the superheating process. The balloon fluid serves dual purposes as both the medium for acoustic wave generation and the target for laser heating. This merging reduces overall system complexity despite the advanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon fluid acts as an intermediary medium that converts optical energy from the laser into thermal energy, which then generates acoustic pressure waves. This intermediary approach allows decoupling of the laser source from the lesion site, enabling safe and effective energy delivery through the balloon interface.
3Use of energy by moving object
If optical fibers and resistive heating elements are used to direct energy to the balloon fluid, then heating efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical contact heating with optical energy delivery through optical fibers. The laser light travels through the optical fiber to the balloon fluid, eliminating the need for physical thermal contact. This substitution improves heating efficiency and enables precise energy delivery to the targeted fluid volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber serves multiple functions: it delivers laser energy for heating, can potentially serve as a sensing element, and provides a flexible delivery mechanism that can navigate vascular pathways. This multi-functionality justifies the inclusion of optical fibers in the system despite the added complexity.
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 effectively disrupts vascular lesions by generating high-pressure acoustic waves, reducing the need for subsequent treatments and minimizing adverse events by directly inducing fractures in the lesions.
Implementation Method 1
a superheating system configured to heat a balloon fluid within the balloon rapidly enough to achieve spontaneous vaporization of the balloon fluid
Implementation Method 2
heating a balloon fluid within the balloon rapidly enough to achieve spontaneous vaporization of the balloon fluid and generate inertial bubbles and acoustic pressure waves
Implementation Method 3
generate inertial bubbles and acoustic pressure waves... imparting pressure upon the vascular lesion to induce fractures in the vascular lesion
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures in a vascular lesion within or adjacent a vessel wall, includes a catheter and a superheating system. The catheter can advance to the vascular lesion. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon includes a balloon wall. The balloon moves between a collapsed configuration and a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The superheating system can heat a balloon fluid within the balloon rapidly enough to achieve spontaneous vaporization of the balloon fluid and to generate inertial bubbles and acoustic pressure waves. The superheating system can include a first light guide extending along the elongate shaft. The first light guide is in optical communication with a light source at a proximal portion of the first light guide.