Thrombectomy Capture Cage With Pull Control for Long Thrombi
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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 of the thrombus 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/or macerator mechanism within the capture cage, along with vibration and rotational movement for enhanced thrombus removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the thrombus capture body is located proximally of the thrombus blocking body and pushed into contact with the thrombus by an elongated control arm, then the device can remove thrombus from blood vessels, but the force imposed on the thrombus is reduced due to bending flexibility of the control arm and there is risk of control arm buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by positioning the thrombus capture body distally of the thrombus blocking body instead of proximally. The control arm is connected to the trailing end of the capture body and pulls it into contact with the thrombus, reversing the push-pull mechanism. This inversion eliminates buckling risk and maintains control arm rigidity while effectively engaging long thrombi.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shearing basket is pushed downstream in the vessel where the vessel progressively tapers outwardly, then the device can navigate the vessel, but the effectiveness of the shearing basket decreases due to the increasing diameter of the vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the direction of engagement by having the capture body pull the thrombus upstream against the direction of vessel tapering. The control arm pulls the capture body upstream into contact with the thrombus, effectively working against the vessel diameter increase and maintaining engagement effectiveness throughout the tapered section.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary positioning by advancing the capture body and blocking body to straddle the thrombus before engagement. The control arm is pre-positioned to pull the capture body into contact with the thrombus, ensuring proper alignment before the pulling action begins, which maintains effectiveness in tapered vessels.
3Productivity
If the thrombus capture body is located distally of the thrombus blocking body and pulled into contact with the thrombus by an elongated control arm, then the device can effectively remove long thrombi from tapered vessels, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional proximal capture body arrangement to a distal capture body configuration. This single positional inversion simplifies the control mechanism by eliminating buckling concerns and maintaining control arm rigidity, while the same control arm structure achieves better thrombus engagement in tapered vessels, effectively reducing operational complexity despite the positional change.
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 removes long thrombi from large or tapered blood vessels by maintaining contact with the vessel wall, reducing buckling risks, and ensuring thorough thrombus capture and extraction, even in challenging vessel geometries.
Implementation Method 1
a thrombus extractor and/or macerator mechanism disposed within the thrombus capture cage
Implementation Method 2
The device also comprises vibration means including vibration actuation means
Data Source
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.