Transcarotid Neurovascular Catheter with Variable Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neurovascular catheters are designed for femoral access and are not ideal for carotid access, lacking optimal dimensions and mechanical properties to navigate the cerebral vessels smoothly and safely, with limitations in flexibility transitions and inner lumen diameter, leading to cumbersome and risky procedures.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with gradual, smooth transitions in flexibility along its length, optimized for carotid artery access, featuring a PTFE inner liner, a reinforcement structure, and a variable outer jacket layer, allowing for a larger inner diameter while maintaining thin wall thickness and kink resistance, with a hydrophilic coating and tapered coaxial inner member for improved navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If catheters are designed for femoral access with long length and gradual stiffness transitions, then they can navigate the tortuous path from aortic arch to cerebral arteries, but they are not suitable for transcarotid access and become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates different flexibility characteristics in different sections: a more flexible distal section for navigating cerebral vessel curvatures and a stiffer proximal section for stable positioning in the carotid artery. This localized differentiation allows the catheter to be optimized specifically for transcarotid access rather than being designed for the longer femoral access route.
2Productivity
If catheters have a larger inner diameter to improve aspiration capabilities, then they can remove thrombus more effectively, but they become stiffer and harder to navigate delicate cerebral vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter features a larger inner diameter specifically in the proximal section where aspiration is performed, while the distal section maintains a smaller diameter and higher flexibility for navigating cerebral vessels. This localized differentiation allows effective thrombus removal without compromising the ability to navigate delicate vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is divided into functional sections with different dimensional characteristics: a proximal section optimized for aspiration with larger lumen, and a distal section optimized for navigation with smaller diameter and higher flexibility. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally.
3Strength
If catheters use a three-layer construction with PTFE liner, reinforcement, and outer jacket, then they provide low friction and structural integrity, but they have limited ability to achieve continuous smooth transitions in flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter varies the composition, thickness, or durometer of the outer jacket layer along its length to create gradual transitions in flexibility. The reinforcement structure may also be varied in density or configuration. These parameter changes allow smooth flexibility transitions while maintaining the benefits of the three-layer construction for structural integrity and low friction.
4Reliability
If catheters are made more flexible to navigate delicate cerebral vessels, then they reduce risk of vessel perforation, but they become more prone to kinking and less stable for aspiration
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter has a more flexible distal section for safe navigation of cerebral vessels and a stiffer proximal section that provides kink resistance and stability during aspiration. The reinforcement structure is distributed differently along the length, providing support where needed while allowing flexibility where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is segmented into functional zones: a flexible distal portion for navigation safety and a stiffer proximal portion for mechanical stability. This segmentation allows the catheter to simultaneously achieve vessel safety through flexibility and kink resistance through structural support in different locations.
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
Enables safe and efficient access to cerebral vessels with reduced risk of embolic complications, improved flexibility, and enhanced aspiration capabilities, facilitating procedures in tortuous anatomy with a thinner, more flexible, and kink-resistant design.
Implementation Method 1
an inner Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) liner to provide a low-friction inner surface
Implementation Method 2
featuring a PTFE inner liner, a reinforcement structure, and a variable outer jacket layer, allowing for a larger inner diameter while maintaining thin wall thickness and kink resistance, with a hydrophilic coating
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2~4
AI summary
An interventional catheter for treating an artery includes an elongated body sized and shaped to be transcervically introduced into a common carotid artery at an access location in the neck. The elongated body has an overall length such that the distal most section can be positioned in an intracranial artery and at least a portion of the proximal most section is positioned in the common carotid artery during use.