Transcarotid Neurovascular Catheter With Variable Stiffness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing neurovascular catheters designed for femoral access are not ideal for carotid access due to length and mechanical property mismatches, leading to increased risk and difficulty in navigating the aortic arch and proximal carotid arteries, and they lack smooth flexibility transitions and large inner diameters.
Innovation Solution
A catheter optimized for carotid access with gradual, smooth flexibility transitions and a large inner diameter, featuring a PTFE inner liner, outer jacket layer, and reinforcement structure, with varying durometer and reinforcement materials along the length to ensure kink resistance and flexibility, and optionally a hydrophilic coating for ease of advancement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a catheter is designed for femoral access, then it can reach target cerebral arteries through the aortic arch and proximal carotid arteries, but it has inappropriate length and mechanical properties that increase the risk of embolic complications and make navigation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter employs variable stiffness sections along its length, with the proximal section being stiffer to navigate the aortic arch and proximal carotid arteries, while the distal section is more flexible to navigate the curved intracranial anatomy. This local variation in mechanical properties allows the catheter to adapt to different vascular segments without requiring embolic protection devices, thereby reducing embolic complications while maintaining ease of navigation.
2Ease of operation
If a catheter has a large inner diameter for ease of device exchange and aspiration, then it facilitates procedure flexibility, but it reduces the catheter's ability to navigate curved and tortuous vascular anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple sections with different flexibility characteristics. The proximal section has a larger inner diameter optimized for device exchange and aspiration, while the distal section has a smaller inner diameter and higher flexibility to navigate curved vascular anatomy. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the overall catheter performance.
3Ease of manufacture
If a catheter uses uniform flexibility along its length, then it simplifies manufacturing, but it cannot adequately navigate the varying curvature of different vascular segments from carotid access
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter incorporates variable stiffness sections at specific locations to match the anatomical requirements of different vascular segments. The proximal section is stiffer for the aortic arch and proximal carotid, while the distal section is more flexible for the curved intracranial vessels. This local quality variation enhances navigation capability while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes for neurovascular catheters.
Data Source
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.