Textile Thrombectomy Structure for Gentle Clot Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current thrombectomy devices are not gentle on fragile blood vessels and lack flexibility to navigate tortuous vessels, often requiring multiple devices for clot removal and relying on embolic protection or balloons, which can impede blood flow.

Innovation Solution

A textile structure-based mechanical thrombectomy device with self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube featuring varying slit patterns and shape sets, allowing for torsional rasping and flexible deployment without embolic protection or balloons, designed to capture and remove thrombi across different vessel diameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If laser cut hypotube based mechanical thrombectomy devices are used, then clot removal capability is improved, but damage to fragile blood vessels occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclot removal capabilityVSAvoiddamage to blood vessels

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible textile structure made of interwoven filaments that can conform to and gently engage with fragile blood vessels during thrombectomy procedures. This textile-based approach replaces rigid laser-cut hypotube structures with a compliant material that maintains clot removal capability while reducing mechanical damage to vessel walls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Productivity

If rigid thrombectomy devices are used, then clot capture efficiency is improved, but flexibility to navigate tortuous vessels deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclot capture efficiencyVSAvoidflexibility in tortuous vessels

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The textile structure consists of flexible filaments woven into a tubular configuration that can navigate tortuous vessel paths while maintaining the ability to capture clots effectively. The flexibility of the textile allows the device to conform to complex vessel geometries without sacrificing clot engagement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The textile structure is composed of multiple discrete filaments woven together, creating a segmented yet continuous structure. This segmentation allows individual filaments to flex and adapt to vessel contours while the overall structure maintains structural integrity for effective clot capture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If multiple thrombectomy devices are used to remove clots of varying sizes, then clot removal completeness is improved, but device complexity and procedure time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclot removal completenessVSAvoidnumber of devices required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The textile-based thrombectomy device is designed with adjustable engagement characteristics that allow a single device to effectively remove clots of varying sizes and configurations. The flexible textile structure can be tuned to match different clot burdens, eliminating the need to switch between multiple specialized devices during a procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If embolic protection devices or balloons are used, then distal emboli capture is improved, but blood flow is impeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemboli captureVSAvoidblood flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible textile structure can selectively engage and capture emboli while maintaining adequate blood flow through the vessel. Unlike rigid balloons or stiff embolic protection devices, the compliant textile allows blood to pass through while trapping larger embolic material, thus balancing protection functionality with flow preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 device effectively captures and removes thrombi without damaging blood vessels, provides visibility under X-ray, and allows for single-piece clot removal without impeding blood flow, offering flexibility and adaptability to varying vessel diameters.

Implementation Method 1

The plurality of wires comprises shape-memory wires

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory effect: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

The plurality of wires comprises radiopaque wires

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectX-ray absorption: X-Ray

Data Source

PatentUS11298144B2Thrombus aspiration facilitation systems

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 INSERA THERAPEUTICS INC

AI summary

Vascular treatment devices and methods include a woven structure including a plurality of bulbs that may be self-expanding, a hypotube, for example including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs, and a bonding zone between the woven structure and the hypotube. The woven structure may include patterns of radiopaque filaments measurable under x-ray. Structures may be heat treated to include various shapes at different temperatures. The woven structure may be deployable to implant in a vessel. A catheter may include a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs and optionally a balloon. Laser cutting systems may include fluid flow systems.