Thrombus Removal Device with Variable Mesh and Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices struggle to effectively remove small thrombi from blood vessels due to mesh structures that widen as they expand, making it difficult to collect and suction thrombi against strong blood flow, which can lead to pulmonary embolism risks.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with an elongated shaft and two expanding members, each with a mesh structure, that are elastically deformable to securely obstruct flow in a body lumen, allowing for effective removal of thrombi by expanding to contact the inner vessel wall and using a cover to prevent slipping, optimizing the structure for thrombus collection and suction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a filter with mesh structure is expanded in the blood vessel, then the filter can be inserted and deployed, but the mesh openings widen making it difficult to collect small thrombi
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into multiple circumferential rows of mesh structures, with each row having progressively smaller opening sizes from the proximal end to the distal end. This segmentation allows different portions of the filter to capture thrombi of different sizes while maintaining overall structural integrity during deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the filter have different mesh opening characteristics - the proximal end has larger openings for initial thrombus capture, while the distal end has smaller openings for capturing smaller thrombi. This local variation in quality ensures effective thrombus collection across the entire filter surface despite expansion.
2Reliability
If the filter is expanded to contact the vessel wall, then it can obstruct flow, but it is difficult to suck thrombi against strong blood flow
Solution Approach 1:
The filter incorporates a dynamic structure that can change its configuration in response to blood flow conditions. The flexible support members and mesh structure allow the filter to adapt its shape and contact pressure with the vessel wall, optimizing both flow obstruction and thrombus suction capability under varying hemodynamic conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter design changes physical parameters such as mesh opening size, support member stiffness, and contact surface area to optimize performance. By adjusting these parameters, the filter achieves effective flow obstruction while maintaining sufficient suction capability to remove thrombi against strong blood flow.
3Reliability
If the mesh openings are made smaller to collect small thrombi, then thrombus collection improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh structure is segmented into multiple circumferential rows with systematically varying opening sizes. This segmentation achieves comprehensive thrombus collection across different size ranges while using repetitive modular patterns that simplify manufacturing compared to a completely custom complex design.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter uses composite construction combining different materials with varying properties - such as flexible mesh material for thrombus capture and stiffer support members for structural integrity. This composite approach achieves the required functionality with optimized material selection rather than increasing structural complexity.
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 secures itself to the blood vessel, obstructs flow to prevent thrombi from reaching the lungs, and facilitates the removal of thrombi through suction, addressing the limitations of existing devices in collecting and removing small thrombi.
Implementation Method 1
The first expanding member is an elastically deformable tube including a plurality of through openings... The second expanding member is also an elastically deformable tube including a plurality of through openings
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device to be inserted into a body lumen to obstruct flow in the body lumen includes a shaft unit; a proximal slider and a distal slider that are slidable along the shaft unit; a first expanding member including a distal portion coupled to the proximal slider and a proximal portion coupled to the shaft unit; a second expanding member including a distal portion coupled to the distal slider and a proximal portion coupled to the proximal slider; and a cover that surrounds an outer periphery of the first expanding member and coupled to the proximal portion of the first expanding member, the cover being tubular and flexibly deformable independently of the first expanding member.