UV Laser Dilation for Safer Thrombectomy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating occlusive disorders in tubular anatomical structures, such as arteries, often result in damage to the endothelium and vessel walls due to mechanical friction and pressure, leading to residual damage and poor patient recovery, as they rely heavily on mechanical means for clot removal.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive method using a conically tipped optical fiber to deliver ultraviolet (UV) laser light as an annular beam onto the arterial wall, inducing the release of nitric oxide from smooth muscle cells to dilate the structure, thereby reducing mechanical contact and friction during thrombectomy procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mechanical means (aspiration catheter, stentriever) are used for clot removal, then clot extraction is achieved, but endothelial damage and arterial wall injury occur due to mechanical friction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclot removal efficiencyVSAvoidendothelial damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical thrombectomy devices (aspiration catheters, stentriever) with a UV laser-based system that uses photophysical effects to dissolve clots chemically rather than mechanically. The UV laser induces photolysis of nitrite in smooth muscle cells to release nitric oxide, which dissolves the thrombus without mechanical contact, thereby eliminating mechanical friction and endothelial damage while maintaining clot removal capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces nitric oxide as an intermediary substance that mediates the clot dissolution process. The UV laser first produces nitric oxide from nitrite in the arterial wall, and this nitric oxide then acts as the active agent to dissolve the thrombus. This chemical intermediary eliminates the need for direct mechanical contact between extraction devices and the clot, reducing endothelial damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple passes of mechanical extraction are performed, then complete clot removal is achieved, but mechanical interaction with vessel wall increases causing more damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete clot removalVSAvoidarterial wall damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The UV laser-based chemical dissolution method eliminates the need for multiple mechanical passes. By converting the extraction mechanism from mechanical friction to photochemical dissolution, the system achieves complete clot removal in a single application without repeated mechanical contact, thereby preventing cumulative arterial wall damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If high-intensity pulsed lasers are used to disrupt thrombus by ablation or photoacoustic shock, then clot removal is achieved, but harmful effects to vessel wall occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrombus disruptionVSAvoidvessel wall injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces high-intensity pulsed laser ablation and photoacoustic shock with a different photophysical mechanism - photolysis of nitrite to release nitric oxide. This chemical dissolution approach avoids the mechanical disruption and thermal damage caused by high-intensity pulsed lasers, achieving thrombus removal through chemical rather than physical destruction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of UV laser energy into a beneficial chemical dissolution process. Instead of using high-intensity pulsed laser energy to mechanically disrupt or thermally ablate the thrombus (which causes vessel wall injury), the system uses UV light to trigger photolysis of nitrite, producing nitric oxide that chemically dissolves the clot without damaging the vessel wall

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This approach minimizes endothelial damage and mechanical friction, facilitating safer and more efficient clot removal by promoting vasodilation and reducing the risk of arterial wall injury during and after the procedure.

Implementation Method 1

using ultraviolet (UV) laser light to photophysically stimulate release of nitric oxide from smooth muscle cells lining the tubular anatomical structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotophysical production of nitric oxide: Photodissociation

Data Source

PatentUS11963720B2Device and method for dilation of a tubular anatomical structure

Publication Date: 2024.04.23 PHOTOTHROMBOTICS INC D B A ENDO UV TECH

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 having an external or inverted conical tip. 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. This “minimal contact persistent dilation system” prepares the artery for safer mechanical extraction by thrombectomy, owing to decrease in friction and dissolution of chemical bonding.