UV Annular-Beam Arterial Dilation for Low-Trauma Clot Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating occlusive disorders in tubular anatomical structures, such as arteries, often cause damage to the vessel wall and are inefficient, leading to suboptimal patient recovery and potential long-term consequences.
Innovation Solution
A method using an optical fiber to deliver UV laser light in the form of an annular beam to stimulate nitric oxide release from smooth muscle cells, minimizing mechanical contact and inducing dilation of the tubular structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical methods (aspiration, stentriever) are used to remove clots, then clot removal efficiency is improved, but endothelial and arterial wall damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using UV laser irradiation to dilate the arterial structure before mechanical clot removal. The UV light stimulates nitric oxide release from smooth muscle cells, causing radial expansion of the artery. This pre-dilation reduces the mechanical friction and resistance encountered during subsequent aspiration or stentriever operations, thereby improving clot removal efficiency while minimizing damage to the endothelium and arterial wall.
2Productivity
If multiple reinsertions are performed to improve extraction efficiency, then complete clot removal is achieved, but mechanical interaction with vessel wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV laser-induced dilation is performed as a preliminary action before the thrombectomy procedure. By pre-dilating the artery and reducing thrombus adherence to the vessel wall, the procedure enables more efficient single-pass extraction, eliminating the need for multiple reinsertions and their associated mechanical trauma to the vessel wall.
3Productivity
If high-intensity pulsed lasers are used to disrupt thrombus, then thrombus removal is achieved, but vessel wall injury occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical disruption approach with a photophysical mechanism. Instead of using high-intensity pulsed lasers to mechanically disrupt or ablate the thrombus, the invention uses UV laser light to photophysically stimulate nitric oxide release from smooth muscle cells. This chemical/biological mechanism causes vasodilation and facilitates thrombus removal without the mechanical trauma and vessel wall injury associated with direct laser ablation or photoacoustic shock.
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 UV laser-induced dilation reduces endothelial and smooth muscle cell damage, facilitating safer and more efficient removal of blood clots while preserving arterial integrity.
Implementation Method 1
using ultraviolet (UV) laser light to photophysically stimulate release of nitric oxide from smooth muscle cells lining the tubular anatomical structure
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a method and device for dilating a tubular anatomical structure. The device and method can be useful for extracting a blood clot in an artery of a mammal by concentrically irradiating an inner wall of the occluded artery using an ultraviolet (UV) laser beam delivered by an optical fiber. Dilation results from photophysical production and release of nitric oxide from the cells lining the arterial wall when UV laser light is projected as a ring beam onto the inner arterial wall.