Vector Flush Sizing Catheter for Fewer Endovascular Exchanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stent-grafts require multiple catheter exchanges, leading to blood loss, procedural complexity, and increased time due to the need for separate devices for contrast dispersion and measurement, complicating intra-vascular procedures.
Innovation Solution
A vector flush sizing catheter with a guide tube, steering assembly, and radiopaque markers that allows for simultaneous contrast dispersion and vessel measurement, guiding and introducing endovascular devices, minimizing catheter exchanges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple catheter exchanges are performed for contrast dispersion and device introduction, then the procedure can be completed with specialized devices, but blood loss increases and procedural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines contrast dispersion functionality and device introduction guidance into a single catheter system. The sizing catheter includes both contrast flush holes for dispersing contrast material and a guide passage for introducing endovascular devices, eliminating the need for separate catheter exchanges and thereby reducing blood loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The sizing catheter is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a contrast dispersion device and as a guide for endovascular device introduction. This universal catheter performs multiple functions that previously required separate specialized devices, reducing procedural steps and blood loss.
2Reliability
If multiple catheter exchanges are performed, then specialized devices can be used for each function, but procedural time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging contrast dispersion and device guidance functions into one catheter, the patent eliminates multiple catheter exchange steps. The sizing catheter maintains both contrast flush holes and guide passage simultaneously, allowing continuous performance of both functions without time-consuming exchanges.
Solution Approach 2:
The sizing catheter enables continuous useful action by maintaining both contrast dispersion capability and device guidance capability throughout the procedure. The catheter remains in place performing multiple functions continuously rather than being exchanged between functions, reducing procedural time.
3Reliability
If multiple catheter exchanges are performed, then specific devices can be optimized for each function, but procedural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of separate contrast dispersion catheters and device introduction catheters into a single sizing catheter. This unified device includes integrated components (contrast flush holes, guide passage, radiopaque markers) that maintain functional optimization while simplifying the overall procedure by reducing the number of device exchanges and procedural steps.
4Ease of operation
If separate catheters are used for contrast dispersion and device introduction, then each function can be performed independently, but the number of catheter exchanges increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sizing catheter achieves universality by incorporating both contrast dispersion functionality (through flush holes) and device introduction guidance (through the guide passage) into a single device. This allows independent performance of both functions simultaneously without requiring catheter exchanges, maintaining ease of operation while reducing procedural complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The techniques of this disclosure generally relate to a vector flush sizing catheter (10) that is used initially to disperse contrast and measure a length of a main vessel using radiopaque measuring markers (66) of the catheter. Subsequently, the vector flush sizing catheter is used to guide and introduce another endovascular device into the main vessel. By using the vector flush sizing catheter for both procedures, the exchange of catheters, the complexity of the procedure, and the associated risks are minimized.