UV Ring-Beam Dilation for Low-Friction Clot Extraction
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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 result in suboptimal patient recovery due to mechanical friction and endothelial injury during clot extraction.
Innovation Solution
A method using a conically tipped optical fiber to deliver UV laser light as an annular beam, stimulating nitric oxide release from smooth muscle cells to achieve radial expansion and minimize mechanical contact, thereby reducing damage during thrombectomy procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical extraction methods (aspiration, stentriever) are used to remove clots, then clot removal efficiency is improved, but endothelial damage and vessel wall injury increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using UV laser irradiation to dissolve the thrombus before mechanical extraction. The UV light triggers photolytic degradation of the thrombus components, softening and breaking down the clot structure in advance. This preliminary optical dissolution reduces the mechanical friction and resistance encountered during subsequent extraction, thereby improving removal efficiency while minimizing endothelial damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the purely mechanical extraction system with an optical-mechanical hybrid approach. UV laser light is used to optically dissolve the thrombus, replacing the need for high-force mechanical extraction alone. This substitution reduces the mechanical stress on the vessel wall and endothelium while still achieving effective clot removal, thus resolving the contradiction between extraction efficiency and tissue damage.
2Speed
If high-force mechanical extraction is applied to remove occlusive clots, then clot removal speed is improved, but vessel wall perforation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
UV laser irradiation is applied preliminarily to photolytically degrade the thrombus before mechanical extraction. This pre-treatment softens and fragments the clot, reducing its structural integrity and resistance. As a result, subsequent mechanical extraction requires lower forces, maintaining fast removal speed while preventing vessel wall perforation and preserving wall integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV laser acts as an intermediary that mediates between the mechanical extraction system and the thrombus. By optically degrading the clot structure first, the UV irradiation reduces the mechanical burden on the extraction device and the vessel wall. This intermediary optical treatment enables faster removal without compromising vessel wall integrity, resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple passes of extraction are performed to remove clots, then complete clot removal is achieved, but mechanical friction damage to the vessel wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
UV laser irradiation is applied as a preliminary treatment to photolytically degrade the thrombus before extraction. This pre-dissolution weakens the clot structure and reduces its adhesion to the vessel wall. Consequently, extraction can be achieved in fewer passes with reduced mechanical friction, while still ensuring complete clot removal. This resolves the contradiction between complete removal reliability and minimization of friction damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces repeated mechanical extraction passes with an optical-mechanical sequence. UV laser irradiation optically degrades the thrombus, reducing its mechanical resistance and adhesion. This substitution allows complete clot removal to be achieved in fewer mechanical passes, thereby reducing cumulative friction damage to the vessel wall while maintaining reliability of complete removal.
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 system effectively minimizes endothelial damage and facilitates efficient clot removal with reduced mechanical friction, enhancing patient recovery and procedural safety.
Implementation Method 1
using ultraviolet (UV) laser light to photophysically stimulate release of nitric oxide from smooth muscle cells lining the tubular anatomical structure
Implementation Method 2
an optical fiber having a conical tip for directing an annular beam of UV light to the inner surface of a 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.