Thrombectomy Device Electrostatic Clot Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical procedures for removing obstructions from body lumens, such as clots during ischemic stroke treatment, face challenges with clot detachment and migration due to bifurcations, vessel diameter changes, and tortuosity, leading to incomplete clot retrieval and secondary strokes.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a core assembly that includes a first conductor and a second conductor with an insulative material, where the second conductor has electrode portions to facilitate current distribution across the interventional element, ensuring it remains positively charged and effectively attracts negatively charged blood components, improving clot adhesion and retrieval efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stent is deployed to push the clot to the side of the vessel, then blood flow is re-established, but the clot may detach and migrate to smaller vessels during retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies electrical current to charge the interventional element before and during clot engagement, creating electrostatic attraction forces that preliminarily secure the clot to the device. This preliminary electrostatic bonding prevents clot detachment during subsequent manipulation and retrieval through tortuous vasculature.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces purely mechanical clot retention mechanisms with an electrostatic field-based retention system. By applying electrical current through conductors to charge the interventional element, the system creates electrostatic attraction forces that hold the clot more reliably than mechanical forces alone, especially during navigation through bifurcations and tortuous vessels.
2Ease of operation
If the interventional element is withdrawn through tortuous anatomy, then the procedure is completed, but the clot may detach at bifurcations or vessel diameter changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system substitutes mechanical clot holding forces with electrostatic attraction forces generated by applying electrical current. This electrostatic field provides more reliable clot adhesion during device withdrawal through tortuous anatomy, bifurcations, and vessel diameter changes, where mechanical forces are insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the electrical current parameters (amplitude, duration, pulsatile vs. continuous) to optimize the electrostatic charge on the interventional element during different phases of the procedure. This parameter control ensures consistent clot adhesion strength throughout device retrieval, adapting to changing hemodynamic and anatomical conditions.
3Reliability
If multiple device passes are performed to retrieve the clot, then complete retrieval is achieved, but the procedure duration increases and risk of secondary strokes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies electrical current to charge the interventional element and create strong electrostatic attraction forces before attempting clot retrieval. This preliminary electrostatic bonding secures the clot firmly to the device in a single pass, eliminating the need for multiple retrieval attempts and reducing procedure duration.
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing mechanical clot engagement with electrostatic attraction, the system achieves more reliable single-pass clot retrieval. The electrostatic forces provide stronger and more consistent clot adhesion compared to mechanical forces alone, reducing the likelihood of clot detachment that would require additional device passes.
4Reliability
If electrical current is applied to charge the interventional element, then clot adhesion is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interventional element serves multiple functions: it acts as both the mechanical structure for clot engagement and retrieval, and as an electrode for generating electrostatic attraction forces. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by combining structural and electrical functions in a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the interventional element (stent/retriever) with the electrical charging capability by integrating conductors directly into the device structure. This consolidation of mechanical and electrical functions into a single integrated system reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall system architecture.
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 solution enhances the attachment of clots to the interventional element, reducing the number of device passes required for complete retrieval and minimizing the risk of secondary strokes by ensuring consistent electrical charging across the interventional element.
Implementation Method 1
the interventional element is positively charged and adhering clot material thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A medical treatment device is disclosed herein. In one example, the medical treatment device includes a core assembly which has a first conduct and a second conductor. An insulative material can surround the second conductor and define an electrode portion of the second conductor that is uncovered by the insulative material. The medical treatment device can include an interventional element that electrical couples to the first conductor. The electrode portion of the second conductor can be disposed radially adjacent to or distal of the interventional element.