Percutaneous Thrombus Extraction Device with Expandable Basket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing blood clots from blood vessels require surgical intervention and general anesthesia, leading to patient risk and high healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive percutaneous extraction device featuring a flexible outer sheath and a self-expandable inner sheath that can be introduced into a blood vessel to remove clots without surgical incision, using a catheter with expandable bodies to facilitate thrombus removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical embolectomy with general anesthesia is used, then complete thrombus removal is achieved, but patient risk and healthcare costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible catheter with an expandable basket structure that can be navigated through blood vessels in a compressed state and then expanded at the thrombus site. This flexible shell approach allows percutaneous access without surgical incision, eliminating the need for general anesthesia while maintaining effective thrombus removal capability through the expandable basket that can engage and extract the clot.
2Ease of operation
If surgical incision and open artery approach is used, then thrombus access is achieved, but patient trauma and hospitalization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a nested catheter structure where an inner catheter with the expandable basket is contained within an outer delivery catheter. The inner catheter is advanced through the outer catheter to the thrombus site, then the outer catheter is removed while the inner catheter remains in place with its basket expanded. This nested configuration enables complex functionality to be delivered through a simple percutaneous puncture, avoiding open surgical procedures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If percutaneous approach is used, then patient trauma is reduced, but device complexity and maneuverability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic expandable basket structure that transitions from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded working configuration. The basket consists of multiple interconnected elements that can radially expand upon reaching the thrombus site, transforming the device's geometry and functional capabilities in situ. This dynamic transformation allows the device to maintain low profile during delivery while achieving large working dimensions for effective thrombus engagement and removal.
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 allows for safe and cost-effective removal of blood clots with reduced patient trauma and no need for hospitalization, improving patient comfort and reducing healthcare costs.
Implementation Method 1
The inner sheath is self-expandable to the expanded configuration to conform to an inner surface of the blood vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A percutaneous thrombus extraction device for removing a thrombus from within a blood vessel includes a flexible outer sheath defining a first passage between a proximal end and a distal end. An inner sheath is movably positionable within the first passage. The inner sheath defines a second passage between a proximal end and a distal end. The inner sheath is moveable in a radial direction between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration along a length of the inner sheath defined between the proximal end and the distal end. A catheter is movably positionable within the second passage, and has an expandable body at a distal end portion of the catheter. The expandable body is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.