Telescoping Vascular Sheath for Continuous Access and Sizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical procedures face challenges with sheath exchanges that can lead to loss of access, are time-consuming, and increase treatment costs due to the need for successively larger sheaths during mechanical thrombectomy treatments.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping vascular sheath with multiple segments, each having a tapered distal section and a proximal section, allowing for independent movement along a longitudinal axis, providing a working passageway for efficient access and configuration changes without requiring sheath retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If successively larger sheaths are used to accommodate mechanical thrombectomy treatment, then the treatment can be performed, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and requires multiple sheath exchanges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested configuration where multiple sheath segments of different sizes are telescoped within each other. The inner sheath segments can be extended or retracted relative to outer segments, allowing the system to accommodate various device sizes without requiring complete sheath exchanges. This nested structure enables a single access point to adapt to different treatment requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheath system incorporates dynamic adjustability through telescoping segments that can be independently moved along the longitudinal axis. This allows the effective size and configuration of the sheath to be dynamically changed during the procedure by extending or retracting specific segments, eliminating the need for static, fixed-size sheaths and reducing the time required for sheath exchanges.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sheath exchanges are performed to achieve appropriate sizing, then the desired sheath size can be reached, but access at the entry site is lost and treatment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The nested telescoping segments maintain continuous access at the entry site by allowing size adjustments through internal segment movement rather than complete sheath removal and replacement. The concentric arrangement ensures that the access pathway remains intact while accommodating different device sizes through selective extension of inner segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping sheath system serves multiple functions through a single device: it provides continuous access maintenance, accommodates various device sizes, and enables configuration changes without requiring multiple separate sheaths. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for repeated access establishment and reduces procedural complexity.
3Loss of time
If a single large sheath is used to accommodate all potential treatments, then no sheath exchanges are needed, but the entry site size increases leading to longer wound healing time and higher infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The nested telescoping segments enable a small entry sheath to effectively become a larger working sheath when needed, by extending inner segments only during the procedure. The entry site remains small during insertion, reducing infection risk and wound healing time, while the telescoped configuration provides access for larger devices when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheath system applies different properties to different segments: the outer sheath segments maintain a small profile at the entry site to minimize trauma and infection risk, while inner telescoping segments can be extended to provide larger working dimensions distally. This local differentiation allows the sheath to have small entry characteristics and large working characteristics simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments and related methods of a telescoping vascular sheath are disclosed. The telescoping vascular sheath can include a plurality of sheath segments each having a tapered distal section and a proximal section. Each tapered distal section can include a distal opening surface and each proximal section can include an outer proximal surface. Each sheath segment of the plurality of sheath segments can be slidably engaged with at least one adjacent sheath segment along one or more of the distal opening surfaces and the outer proximal surface. The telescoping vascular sheath can also include a working passageway extending through the plurality of sheath segments and along a longitudinal axis of the telescoping vascular sheath. The working passageway can provide access to an inner lumen of the vessel. In some embodiments, a blood flow system is disclosed.