Vacuum Aspiration Control for Catheter Flow and Blood Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thrombectomy systems face challenges in controlling blood loss and optimizing clot removal during aspiration procedures, particularly when the catheter tip falls out of contact with the thrombus, leading to excessive blood loss and premature termination of the procedure.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum aspiration control system with a sensing unit and controller that monitors flow rate and composition to automatically adjust aspiration modes, including restricted, full, or pulsed aspiration, to prevent excessive blood loss and enhance clot removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If full vacuum aspiration is applied continuously to remove clot, then clot removal efficiency is improved, but blood loss increases excessively when catheter tip falls out of contact with thrombus
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the aspiration mode between full vacuum, restricted, and pulsed modes based on real-time flow rate detection. When the catheter tip falls out of contact with thrombus, the flow rate increases, triggering automatic transition to restricted or pulsed mode to reduce blood loss while maintaining clot removal capability when thrombus is present
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a flow rate sensor that continuously monitors the aspiration flow and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic adjustment of aspiration intensity, allowing the system to distinguish between clot-containing flow and pure blood flow, thereby optimizing the balance between clot removal efficiency and blood loss control
2Device complexity
If manual control of aspiration is used, then system complexity is reduced, but procedure duration increases due to premature termination from excessive blood loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment through automated flow rate detection and control logic. The control system automatically detects when the catheter tip falls out of contact with thrombus and adjusts aspiration parameters without requiring manual intervention, thereby extending procedure duration while maintaining manageable complexity through algorithmic control
3Loss of substance
If restricted aspiration mode is used to reduce blood loss, then blood loss is controlled, but clot removal efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between restricted aspiration mode (for blood loss control) and full vacuum or pulsed modes (for efficient clot removal). The flow rate sensor enables real-time detection of thrombus presence, allowing the system to optimize the balance between blood loss control and clot removal efficiency by adjusting aspiration intensity according to actual conditions
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 system effectively prolongs procedures by reducing blood loss and ensuring complete clot removal by dynamically adjusting aspiration based on flow conditions, allowing for safer and more efficient thrombectomy procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump (not shown) which operates off line voltage
Implementation Method 2
Blood and clot are drawn into a collection canister 20 from an aspiration tube 22
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum aspiration control system for use with a vacuum source and an aspiration catheter includes a connection tubing configured to act as a fluid conduit between the vacuum source and the aspiration catheter. A controllable valve is configured to control a level of vacuum in the connection tubing provided by the vacuum source, and one or more pressure sensors are associated with the connection tubing. A controller is configured to periodically sample flow when the current flow state is unrestricted, utilize an artificial neural network to classify a flow state for the sampled flow, close the controllable valve if the flow state for the sampled flow is classified as unrestricted, and hold the controllable valve open if the flow state for the sampled flow is classified as restricted or obstructed.