Peripheral Vascular Filter Spring System Dislodgement Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vascular filters are too large for peripheral vasculature, lack a mechanism to maintain clots during removal, and can be inadvertently dislodged due to rigid guide wire connections, leading to re-introduction of clots into the bloodstream.
Innovation Solution
A peripheral vascular filter with a spring system connected to a filter wire and retractor wires, which absorbs forces to prevent dislodgement and includes expandable filter walls that obstruct the proximal opening during retrieval to trap clots, ensuring they remain inside the filter during removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing filtering devices are used in peripheral vasculature, then clot capture function is provided, but the devices are too large to be used in peripheral vasculature
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into multiple segments or struts that can be collapsed together for delivery and then expanded at the target site. This segmentation allows the filter to be compressed to a small size for navigation through peripheral vessels while expanding to provide adequate clot capture surface area at the implantation site.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter structure employs a nested configuration where components are collapsed or folded within each other during delivery, similar to nested dolls. The filter transitions from a compact nested state suitable for peripheral vessel delivery to an expanded functional state for clot capture, resolving the size contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If the filter is rigidly fixed to the guide wire for deployment, then deployment control is achieved, but the filter can be inadvertently dislodged from its intended position
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the guide wire and filter transitions from a rigid static connection to a dynamic controlled connection. The system allows the filter to be securely attached during deployment for precise positioning, then provides a mechanism to disconnect or release the filter from the guide wire after implantation, preventing inadvertent dislodgement while maintaining deployment control.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is pre-attached to the guide wire in a controlled state for deployment purposes. After the filter reaches its intended position and is deployed, a preliminary action is taken to secure it independently from the guide wire, eliminating the risk of guide wire movement causing filter dislodgement while maintaining the ease of deployment during the procedure.
3Reliability
If the filter traps clots during deployment, then clot capture is achieved, but captured clots can be re-introduced into the blood stream during filter removal
Solution Approach 1:
Before filter removal, a preliminary action is taken to close or occlude the filter elements, trapping the captured clots inside the filter structure. This preliminary closure ensures that when the filter is subsequently removed from the vessel, the clots remain contained within the filter and cannot be re-introduced into the bloodstream, thus resolving the harmful effect while maintaining clot capture functionality.
4Reliability
If a mechanism is added to maintain clots during removal, then clot retention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clot retention function is merged with the existing filter structure itself. The filter elements are designed to perform both their primary filtration function and a secondary clot containment function during removal. By integrating the retention mechanism into the filter body rather than adding separate components, the solution improves clot retention while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 filter effectively captures and removes blood clots from the peripheral vasculature without re-introducing them into the bloodstream, maintaining its position and ensuring trapped clots are retained during retrieval.
Implementation Method 1
the spring system being stretchable along the length-wise direction... the spring system absorbs forces applied to the filter wire proximal to the filter body
Implementation Method 2
the filter body exerts an expansion force on a tissue lumen in which the filter body is disposed, creating a friction force that resists displacement of the filter body
Data Source
AI summary
A peripheral vascular filter according to some aspects of the invention includes a filter body forming a cavity therein, the filter body having a proximal end and a distal end in a length-wise direction of the peripheral vascular filter, the filter body having an opening in the proximal end thereof; a spring system arranged proximal to the filter body and in mechanical connection with the filter body and with a filter wire, the spring system being stretchable along the length-wise direction; a plurality of retractor wires, each retractor wire having a distal end connected to the filter body, and a proximal end connected to spring system. In a deployed configuration, the spring system absorbs forces applied to the filter wire proximal to the filter body to prevent the peripheral vascular filter from becoming dislodged from a position in a peripheral vasculature.