Thrombectomy Catheter Pressure Control for Clot Aspiration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current thrombectomy systems face challenges in efficiently removing occlusive materials like clots and thrombi while minimizing blood loss and avoiding damage to blood vessels, with existing methods often leading to inefficiencies and potential complications.
Innovation Solution
A thrombectomy system with a catheter equipped with a cutting instrument capable of axial and rotational motion, a pressure-controlling valve, and a sensor system using machine learning to detect occlusive material engagement, allowing for dynamic pressure adjustments and aspiration control to enhance clot removal efficiency and minimize blood loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high pressure aspiration is applied to remove occlusive material quickly, then clot removal efficiency is improved, but blood loss increases and vessel damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts aspiration pressure based on real-time detection of flow states. The controller monitors operational parameters (torque, rotational rate, motor current) and automatically modifies pressure levels - applying high pressure when clots are detected and reducing pressure when blood flow is detected, thereby removing clots efficiently while minimizing blood loss and vessel damage
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback control by continuously monitoring operational parameters of the cutting instrument and using machine learning algorithms to determine flow states. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between clot engagement and blood flow, automatically adjusting pressure to maintain optimal clot removal while preventing excessive blood aspiration and vessel damage
2Reliability
If continuous aspiration is applied to ensure complete clot removal, then clot removal completeness is improved, but blood loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic aspiration cycles with alternating high-pressure (clot removal) and low-pressure (blood recovery) phases. During high-pressure phases, clots are actively removed; during low-pressure phases, blood is allowed to flow back or is recovered at lower rates. This periodic action ensures complete clot removal over time while significantly reducing overall blood loss compared to continuous aspiration
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards (aspirates at high pressure) when clots are detected and recovers (aspirates at low pressure or allows flow back) when blood is detected. This selective discarding and recovering strategy ensures complete removal of occlusive material while minimizing the loss of valuable blood, directly addressing the contradiction between removal completeness and blood loss
3Productivity
If high rotational speed is applied to the cutting instrument to improve clot fragmentation, then clot fragmentation efficiency is improved, but vessel damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the rotational speed of the cutting instrument based on real-time flow state detection. When clots are detected through machine learning analysis of operational parameters, the system applies high rotational speeds for efficient fragmentation. When blood vessels are engaged or blood flow is detected, the system automatically reduces rotational speed to minimize vessel damage, thereby achieving high fragmentation efficiency while protecting vessels
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A thrombectomy system comprises a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the catheter comprises a lumen configured to accommodate fluid. Further, the thrombectomy system comprises a first valve, wherein the first valve is in fluid communication with the catheter, and wherein the first valve is configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes, wherein one or more of the operating modes is configured to alter a level of pressure in the catheter. Furthermore, the thrombectomy system comprises a cutting instrument at the distal end of the catheter, wherein the cutting instrument is configured for one or more motions comprising one or more of axial motion and rotational motion. Even further, the thrombectomy system comprises a first sensor associated with the cutting instrument; and a controller configured to detect, via the first sensor, one or more operational parameters associated with the cutting instrument. The controller further is configured to determine, based on one or more of the detected operational parameters associated with the cutting instrument at the distal end of the catheter, a current flow state indicating whether the distal end of the catheter is engaging with occlusive material, wherein the current flow state is determined via a machine learning algorithm trained on training data to predict one or more flow states associated with the catheter based on one or more of the operational parameters associated with the cutting instrument at the distal end of the catheter. Even further, the controller is configured to operate, based on a determination that the current flow state indicates that the distal end of the catheter is engaging with the occlusive material, the first valve in a first operating mode of the plurality of operating modes to alter the level of pressure in the catheter, and operate, based on a determination that the current flow state indicates that the distal end of the catheter is not engaging with the occlusive material, the first valve in a second operating mode of the plurality of operating modes.