Tissue-removing Catheter with Movable Distal Tip and Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current atherectomy catheters require removal of the guide wire from the guide wire lumen to clean the catheter, which is inefficient and inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

A tissue-removing catheter with a moveable distal tip and closure component that allows for selective opening and closing of the tissue-containment chamber, enabling tissue removal and cleaning without removing the guide wire, utilizing a slidable closure component and distal tip component to manage the tissue-removing opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the guide wire is removed from the guide wire lumen to clean the catheter, then the catheter can be cleaned, but the cleaning process becomes time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecatheter cleaningVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The closure component is designed to be movable along the longitudinal axis, transitioning between a closed position (blocking the tissue-removing opening) and an open position (allowing tissue removal). This dynamic mechanism enables the opening to be accessed for cleaning while the guide wire remains in place, eliminating the need to remove the guide wire for cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the tissue-containment chamber is kept closed to contain tissue, then tissue containment is effective, but the chamber cannot be cleaned without removing the guide wire

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue containmentVSAvoidchamber cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The closure component provides a dynamic sealing mechanism that can be opened when needed for cleaning. The movable design allows the chamber to remain sealed during normal operation for reliable tissue containment, while enabling access to the tissue-removing opening for cleaning operations without guide wire removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The tissue-containment chamber is segmented with a specific tissue-removing opening that can be selectively accessed. This segmentation allows the majority of the chamber to remain sealed for containment while a specific portion can be opened for cleaning, enabling independent access to different functional zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the tissue-removing opening is kept open to allow cleaning, then cleaning is easier, but tissue may escape from the containment chamber

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning accessVSAvoidtissue containment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The closure component acts as a dynamic barrier that can be positioned in a closed state during tissue containment operations to prevent tissue escape, and opened only when cleaning is required. This on-demand opening mechanism maintains containment reliability while providing cleaning access when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3324864B1Tissue-removing catheter including movable distal tip

Publication Date: 2023.02.15 COVIDIEN LP

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AI summary

A catheter includes a tissue-removing element and a tissue-containment chamber configured to receive tissue removed by the tissue-removing element. The tissue- containment chamber has a tissue-removing opening for use in removing tissue from the chamber. A closure component is associated with the tissue-removing opening for selectively opening and closing the opening.