Expandable Thrombus Basket Segmentation and Dehydration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing occlusive materials from blood vessels, such as thrombi, often result in large debris breaking off and flowing downstream, causing further blockages, and require complex equipment and procedures.
Innovation Solution
A catheter assembly with an expandable element that segments thrombi into smaller pieces as they are collected in a basket, allowing for passive capture and dehydration, reducing the risk of downstream embolism and simplifying the retrieval process with a tapered design to facilitate easy withdrawal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current methods are used to remove occlusive materials, then the thrombus can be removed from the blood vessel, but large debris breaks off and flows downstream causing further blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable element includes multiple arms that segment the thrombus into smaller pieces as the thrombus moves into the basket. This segmentation prevents large debris from breaking off and flowing downstream, directly resolving the contradiction by capturing thrombus fragments within the basket structure while maintaining vessel patency.
2Reliability
If complex equipment and procedures are used for thrombus removal, then the thrombus can be removed, but the device complexity and operational challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable element performs multiple functions within a single integrated structure: it captures the thrombus in its basket configuration, segments it using the arms, and facilitates retrieval through the tapered shape. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices and complex procedures while maintaining effective thrombus removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable element transitions between a compressed delivery configuration and an expanded deployed configuration, allowing it to navigate through the catheter and then expand to perform thrombus capture and segmentation. This dynamic transformation enables the device to achieve complex functions through a relatively simple structural evolution rather than multiple separate components.
3Volume of stationary object
If a non-tapered design is used for the expandable element, then the basket can accommodate more thrombus, but the withdrawal process becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable element features an asymmetric tapered shape with a larger proximal opening and a smaller distal end. This asymmetric geometry allows the basket to accommodate sufficient thrombus volume while the taper facilitates easy withdrawal by reducing friction and enabling smooth passage through the catheter during the retrieval process.
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
Effectively captures and removes occlusive material by segmenting it into manageable pieces, reducing the risk of embolism and simplifying the retrieval process, while minimizing equipment complexity and operational challenges.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable element configured to segment the thrombus into smaller pieces as the thrombus moves into a basket defined by the expandable element
Implementation Method 2
the expandable element is configured to compress thrombus positioned in the basket as the expandable element is proximally withdrawn into a retrieval catheter. Compression of the thrombus may expel water from the thrombus and dehydrate the thrombus
Implementation Method 3
The tapered shape may also help distribute the thrombus longitudinally within the basket, which may help mitigate the risk of having too much relatively rigid material (e.g., the dehydrated thrombus) at the distal-most end of the basket
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A catheter assembly comprising a delivery catheter defining a delivery catheter lumen, an expandable element configured to be received within the delivery catheter lumen, wherein the expandable element is configured to receive a thrombus, a delivery catheter handle connected to the delivery catheter, the delivery catheter handle comprising an actuator configured to cause expansion and contraction of the expandable element, a retrieval catheter defining a retrieval catheter lumen configured to receive the delivery catheter, and a retrieval catheter handle connected to the retrieval catheter, wherein a proximal end of the retrieval catheter handle is configured to removably couple to a distal end of the delivery catheter handle.