UV Ring-Beam Arterial Dilation for Low-Trauma Thrombectomy
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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 radial expansion of the tubular structure, thereby facilitating thrombectomy with reduced endothelial and smooth muscle cell damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical thrombectomy 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 induce nitric oxide release and vasodilation of the arterial wall before mechanical thrombectomy procedures. This pre-dilation reduces the mechanical friction and resistance encountered during clot extraction, thereby improving removal efficiency while minimizing damage to the endothelium and arterial wall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical systems with optical/photophysical mechanisms. Instead of relying solely on mechanical force for clot removal, UV laser light is used to trigger photophysical production of nitric oxide, which chemically mediates vasodilation. This replacement reduces direct mechanical trauma to the arterial wall while achieving the same functional outcome of facilitating clot extraction.
2Productivity
If multiple reinsertions (passes) are performed to improve extraction efficiency, then complete clot removal is achieved, but mechanical interaction with vessel wall increases causing more damage
Solution Approach 1:
By performing UV laser-induced vasodilation before the thrombectomy procedure, the arterial wall is pre-prepared with reduced friction and resistance. This preliminary action enables more efficient single-pass extraction, reducing or eliminating the need for multiple reinsertions and their associated mechanical damage to the vessel wall.
3Ease of operation
If catheterization is used to physically enlarge vascular lumen, then occlusion is treated, but vessel wall injury occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical catheterization with photophysical UV laser irradiation to achieve vasodilation. The UV light triggers nitric oxide release from smooth muscle cells, causing radial expansion of the vessel lumen without mechanical contact. This substitution maintains the ability to treat occlusions while eliminating the vessel wall injury characteristic of mechanical catheterization.
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 method effectively reduces mechanical friction and chemical bonding during thrombectomy, promoting safer and more efficient clot removal with minimal damage to the arterial wall, enhancing patient recovery.
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.