Torque-Controlled Tissue-Removing Catheter with Motor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue-removing catheters lack effective torque control mechanisms, which can lead to over-torqueing conditions, damage to the catheter, and potential harm to the patient.
Innovation Solution
The catheter incorporates a gear assembly and motor drivetrain with a controller that monitors motor current and speed to estimate torque, implementing torque control routines in different modes (start-up, track, ablation) to prevent over-torqueing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating element is used to abrade or break up unwanted tissue, then tissue removal effectiveness is improved, but the risk of over-torqueing and damage to the catheter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors motor current and speed during rotation, compares these values against predetermined thresholds, and automatically adjusts or stops rotation when excessive torque is detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the catheter to maintain effective tissue removal while preventing over-torqueing and potential catheter damage.
2Reliability
If torque control mechanisms are added to prevent over-torqueing, then catheter reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system performs self-monitoring and self-regulation by using its own motor current and speed sensors to detect torque levels. The controller automatically executes torque control routines without requiring external monitoring or complex additional mechanical control mechanisms, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If real-time torque monitoring is implemented, then patient safety is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time feedback from motor current and speed sensors to monitor torque conditions and automatically adjust operation only when necessary. This approach enables continuous patient safety monitoring while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption by maintaining normal operation during safe torque conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue-removing catheter may be configured to remove tissue in a body lumen. The tissue-removing catheter may include an elongate body sized and shaped to be received in the body lumen. The tissue-removing catheter also may include a tissue-removing element mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body. The tissue-removing element may be configured to remove the tissue as the tissue-removing element is rotated by the elongate body within the body lumen. The tissue-removing catheter may further include a motor operatively engaging the elongate body for driving rotation of the elongate body and the tissue-removing element. The tissue-removing catheter additionally may include a controller operatively connected to the motor and configured to perform a torque response routine to control a speed of the motor based on a set PWM value of the motor and a detected current applied to the motor during rotation of the elongate body and tissue-removing element.