Thrombectomy Capture Cage for Long-Thrombus Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thrombectomy devices struggle to effectively remove long thrombi from blood vessels due to reduced force application, risk of control arm buckling, and decreased effectiveness in tapered vessels, as well as issues with thrombus capture and blocking mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A thrombectomy device design where the thrombus capture body is located distally to the blocking body, with an elongated control arm connected to the leading end of the capture body, allowing it to be pulled into contact with the thrombus, and featuring a thrombus extractor and macerator mechanism, along with vibration and rotational movement for enhanced thrombus removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the control arm is made elongated to reach long thrombi, then the ability to access and engage long thrombi is improved, but the risk of control arm buckling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol arm lengthVSAvoidcontrol arm buckling resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control arm is divided into multiple segments or sections that can articulate relative to each other, allowing the arm to bend and follow the vessel curvature without buckling, while still reaching long thrombi throughout the vessel length

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control arm incorporates flexible materials or articulated joints that allow it to bend and conform to the vessel geometry, preventing buckling while maintaining the ability to engage and pull on long thrombi throughout the vessel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Productivity

If the thrombus blocking body is moved towards the capture body to remove long thrombi, then thrombus removal capability is improved, but the force applied to the thrombus decreases due to bending flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrombus removal capabilityVSAvoidforce applied to thrombus

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of pushing the blocking body towards the capture body, the capture body is pulled towards the blocking body using the control arm, which maintains better force transmission and engagement with the thrombus throughout the movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The capture body is pre-positioned and engaged with the thrombus before movement begins, ensuring that force is applied directly to the thrombus from the start of the retraction motion, maximizing the effectiveness of force transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the capture body is pulled towards the blocking body to engage long thrombi, then thrombus capture is improved, but the circumferential edge may catch on obstacles causing the collector to flare

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrombus capture efficiencyVSAvoidcapture body stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The capture body is designed to be pulled towards the blocking body rather than pushed, which reverses the direction of forces on the circumferential edge and prevents it from catching on obstacles and flaring during engagement with long thrombi

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The capture body incorporates dynamic elements such as articulated segments or flexible materials that allow it to adapt its shape during movement, preventing the circumferential edge from catching on obstacles while maintaining effective thrombus capture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If the device is used in tapered blood vessels, then the ability to treat various vessel geometries is improved, but the effectiveness of the shearing basket decreases due to increasing diameter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel geometry adaptabilityVSAvoidshearing basket effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The capture body and blocking body are designed with dynamic expansion and contraction capabilities, allowing them to adapt to the changing diameter of tapered vessels while maintaining effective engagement with the thrombus throughout the vessel length

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates adjustable parameters such as expandable baskets or balloons that can change their size and shape to match the local vessel diameter, maintaining effectiveness in both narrow and wide sections of tapered vessels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 efficiently removes long thrombi from large or tapered blood vessels by maintaining contact with the vessel wall, reducing buckling risks, and ensuring complete thrombus capture and extraction, even in challenging vessel geometries.

Implementation Method 1

featuring a thrombus extractor and macerator mechanism, along with vibration and rotational movement for enhanced thrombus removal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

featuring a thrombus extractor and macerator mechanism, along with vibration and rotational movement for enhanced thrombus removal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational movement:

Data Source

PatentUS20250331886A1Thrombectomy device

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 VETEX MEDICAL LTD

AI summary

A thrombectomy device for removing thrombus from a body lumen comprises an elongated catheter member (2) having a distal part and a proximal part, a thrombus blocking body (5) disposed on the distal part of the catheter member and radially expansible between a contracted orientation and an expanded, thrombus-blocking, orientation, a thrombus capture body (3) disposed on the distal part of the catheter member in an axially spaced-apart relationship to the thrombus blocking body, and radially expansible between a contracted orientation and an expanded, thrombus-capture, orientation, deployment means actuable to deploy and retract the thrombus capture body and thrombus blocking body; and an elongated control arm operably connected to the thrombus capture body. The thrombus capture body is a cage having an inwardly tapering leading end, the elongated control arm is operably connected to the leading end of the cage, and a thrombus extractor or macerator mechanism is disposed within the cage.