Braided Thrombectomy Mesh for Vessel Apposition and Flow Arrest
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thrombectomy devices fail to uniformly adapt to the inner wall of blood vessels, leading to thrombus fragmentation and dispersion during extraction, and lack adequate radial forces to stop proximal blood flow effectively.
Innovation Solution
A self-expandable mesh device with helicoidal filaments, featuring varying braiding angles and closed loops, adapts to vessel geometry, provides high radial forces for apposition and blood flow stoppage, and includes a conical section for thrombus accommodation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a thrombectomy device is used to extract thrombus from a blood vessel, then thrombus removal is achieved, but thrombus fragmentation and dispersion occur during extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible mesh structure composed of interwoven filaments that can conform to the thrombus shape and vessel geometry. This flexible shell approach allows the device to capture and contain the thrombus without rigid contact that would cause fragmentation, while still providing sufficient structural support for extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates a dynamically adjustable structure that can transition between compressed and expanded states. The mesh density and radial force can be modified during deployment to optimize thrombus capture while minimizing fragmentation risk throughout the extraction process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a thrombectomy device adapts to vessel geometry, then apposition to inner wall is improved, but uniform adaptation across different vessel sections is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh structure features variable local properties with different mesh densities in different sections. The distal portion has higher mesh density for strong apposition and thrombus capture, while proximal sections have lower density for flexibility and conformability to varying vessel geometries along the length.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into multiple sections with independently optimized characteristics. Each segment can adapt to local vessel geometry while maintaining overall structural integrity, allowing uniform apposition across irregular vessel surfaces through coordinated deformation of individual segments.
3Force
If radial forces are increased to stop proximal blood flow, then blood flow control is improved, but vessel damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes controlled parameter changes in the mesh structure, including variable braiding angles and filament configurations, to modulate radial force distribution. This allows high radial forces to be applied selectively where needed for flow stoppage while maintaining lower forces in other areas to minimize vessel damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible mesh shell distributes radial forces uniformly across the contact surface with the vessel wall, preventing concentrated stress points that could cause damage. The thin film structure provides sufficient radial force for flow control while conforming to the vessel geometry to avoid mechanical injury.
4Reliability
If mesh density is increased to improve thrombus capture, then retention is improved, but device flexibility and navigability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
Different sections of the mesh have locally optimized densities tailored to their specific functions. The distal section features higher mesh density for reliable thrombus capture and retention, while proximal sections maintain lower density to preserve overall device flexibility and ability to navigate through tortuous vasculature.
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 captures and retains thrombus while minimizing vessel damage and fragmentation, ensuring safe and efficient thrombectomy by adapting to vessel curvature and stopping blood flow during extraction.
Implementation Method 1
a self-expandable mesh device with helicoidal filaments... adapts to vessel geometry
Implementation Method 2
provides high radial forces for apposition and blood flow stoppage
Data Source
AI summary
A device, a thrombectomy apparatus and a method for extraction of thrombus from a blood vessel are disclosed. The device comprises a segment changing its shape from a retracted position in a compressed state to an extended and expanded position. The segment is formed by a mesh of at least two sets of helicoidal filaments turning respectively in opposite directions and being intertwined. The mesh comprises two distinct tubular sections. The mesh of the first section has helicoidal filaments with a braiding angle providing radial forces higher than in the second section, thus the first section becomes appositioned against the inner wall of the blood vessel. The second section comprises two sub-sections. The first sub-section has a conical shape and comprises a braiding angle changing at its proximal and distal ends to provide radial strength to maintain the conical shape and to stop a proximal blood flow during the removal of the thrombus.