Thrombectomy Catheter with Segmented Helical Reinforcement

Solution Overview

Problem

Current thrombectomy systems face challenges in efficiently removing organized thrombus due to small catheter lumens, which often require fragmentation and can lead to blockages, wasting time and potentially causing poor patient outcomes.

Innovation Solution

A thrombectomy system featuring an elongate catheter with a large inner diameter and helical wire reinforcement, coupled with a compact aspiration pump that generates optimized pressure waveforms, including negative and positive pressures, to effectively remove thrombus without fragmentation, using biocompatible materials and advanced software for real-time data management and AI-enhanced clot disruption algorithms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If small diameter microcatheters are used to navigate tortuous anatomy, then vascular access is achieved, but the lumen diameter is limited which causes thrombus fragmentation and blockages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevascular accessVSAvoidthrombus removal efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a proximal section with higher flexibility for navigation and a distal section with higher rigidity and larger lumen for thrombus removal. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the catheter have different mechanical properties and lumen diameters tailored to their specific functions. The distal section has a larger lumen diameter specifically designed to prevent thrombus fragmentation while maintaining the ability to navigate through vessels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the catheter lumen diameter is increased to prevent thrombus fragmentation, then thrombus removal efficiency improves, but the catheter becomes more difficult to navigate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrombus removal efficiencyVSAvoidcatheter navigation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a proximal section with higher flexibility for navigation and a distal section with higher rigidity and larger lumen for thrombus removal. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the catheter have different mechanical properties and lumen diameters tailored to their specific functions. The distal section has a larger lumen diameter specifically designed to prevent thrombus fragmentation while maintaining the ability to navigate through vessels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the catheter is made more rigid to withstand negative pressure, then suction efficiency improves, but the catheter cannot be subjected to high bend radius without kinking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuction efficiencyVSAvoidbend radius

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is divided into multiple sections with different properties: a proximal section with higher flexibility for navigation and a distal section with higher rigidity and larger lumen for thrombus removal. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter uses composite construction combining flexible polymer materials with reinforcement elements. This allows the distal section to achieve both high rigidity for suction resistance and flexibility for bending, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 system enables efficient and effective removal of thrombus, reducing procedural time and improving patient outcomes by maintaining suction efficiency and minimizing catheter blockages, while the AI and data management enhance treatment precision and effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

an aspiration pump that can be coupled to the catheter proximal end... operating the aspiration pump to provide negative pressure to the lumen of the catheter thereby suctioning thrombus through the catheter lumen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure suction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

The elongate catheter is has a distal section that preferably includes a helical wire reinforcement and is of a construction that can be subjected to negative pressures of 29 inHg without causing catastrophic damage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical reinforcement:

Implementation Method 3

The catheter has a design that allows the transmission of a pressure waveform generated by a connected aspiration pump to move from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter with minimal dampening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure waveform transmission:

Data Source

PatentUS20240148957A1Aspiration systems, devices and methods for treating ischemic stroke

Publication Date: 2024.05.09 POSEYDON MEDICAL LLC

AI summary

The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for performing the removal of thrombus from a vessel lumen. More particularly the present invention relates to a thrombectomy system that includes an elongate catheter and a disposable aspiration pump and methods of performing medical procedures to remove clots, thrombus and emboli to re-establish the normal intravascular flow of blood.