Self-Adjustable Thrombectomy Catheter Lumen for Vessel Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thrombectomy catheters have low efficiency in removing thrombus due to a small volume between the morcellator and the static cage, leading to slow displacement and potential thrombus egress through openings, resulting in incomplete removal and repeated interventions.
Innovation Solution
A thrombectomy catheter with a self-adjustable lumen that expands to match local blood vessel dimensions, acting as a scoop to collect thrombus, and features an integrated expandable structure with a pre-tensioned wire or SMA actuator for enhanced cross-sectional expansion, along with an anti-friction coating and optional morcellator for thrombus destruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a static cage with wire-frame structure is used, then the catheter can be introduced intravascularly, but thrombus may exit through openings before contacting the morcellator, reducing removal efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is transformed from a static wire-frame structure to a dynamic structure that can collapse and expand. During introduction, the cage collapses to minimize profile; during thrombus removal, it expands to create a closed chamber that prevents thrombus egress and ensures contact with the morcellator, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of introduction and removal efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The morcellator is nested within the cage structure, with the morcellator positioned to rotate within the expanded cage chamber. This nested arrangement ensures that thrombus must pass through the cage opening to reach the morcellator, preventing egress and maximizing removal efficiency while maintaining a compact profile for intravascular introduction
2Device complexity
If the morcellator is arranged inside the static cage, then the structure is compact for introduction, but the volume between morcellator and cage surface is small, requiring slow displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The cage transitions from a compact collapsed state during introduction to an expanded state during thrombus removal. This dynamic expansion creates a larger working volume between the morcellator and cage surface, allowing faster displacement speeds while maintaining compactness for intravascular introduction
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is divided into functionally independent segments: the collapsible cage for structural support and introduction, the rotatable morcellator for thrombus destruction, and the lumen for thrombus collection. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function independently, enabling compact introduction while providing sufficient working volume during thrombus removal
3Productivity
If a rotatable morcellator is used, then thrombus destruction is achieved, but the small volume between morcellator and cage reduces collection capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The cage dynamically expands during thrombus removal to create a larger collection chamber volume. This expansion accommodates more thrombus material while the rotatable morcellator continues to destroy thrombus, resolving the contradiction between destruction capability and collection capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of thrombus destruction (morcellator) and thrombus collection (lumen and expanded cage chamber) are merged into a single integrated system. The expanded cage chamber serves both as the working space for the rotatable morcellator and as the collection volume, eliminating the limitation of small volume while maintaining destruction capability
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 catheter significantly reduces intervention time, effectively removes thrombus from various veins, including those in the lower extremities, without disrupting vascular valves, and allows for efficient removal of elongated thrombi with improved manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a lumen (3) arranged for collecting thrombus and having a cross-section which is alterable from a collapsed state to an expanded state, wherein during displacement of the distal end the cross-section of the lumen is self-adjustable for substantially matching local cross-sectional dimensions of the blood vessel
Implementation Method 2
an integrated expandable structure with a pre-tensioned wire or SMA actuator for enhanced cross-sectional expansion
Implementation Method 3
an anti-friction coating and optional morcellator for thrombus destruction
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a thrombectomy catheter (10) comprising a distal end (D) for at least partially removing thrombus from a blood vessel (4), said distal end being conceived to undergo displacement along the blood vessel, wherein said distal end comprises a lumen (3) being arranged for collecting thrombus (T) and having a cross-section which is alterable from a collapsed state (Sl) to an expanded state (S2), wherein during said displacement the cross-section of the lumen in the expanded state is self-adjustable for substantially matching local cross-sectional dimensions (Dl, D2, D3) of the blood vessel (4). The invention further related to a device comprising a thrombectomy catheter.