Venturi Aspiration Catheter for Kidney Stone Fragment Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive surgical techniques for removing biological objects, such as kidney stones, face challenges including extended operation times, obscured visual fields, difficulties in extracting residual fragments, stone retropulsion, high intra-luminal pressure, and temperature regulation issues, particularly in fluid-filled environments like the kidney.
Innovation Solution
The use of a catheter system that employs a Venturi effect to attract biological objects towards openings through liquid jets and vacuum creation, combined with an evacuation lumen and supply lumen, facilitates the safe and effective removal of fragments by regulating fluid flow and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional ureteroscopic lithotripsy is used to remove kidney stones, then stone removal can be achieved, but operation time is extended and visual field is obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system segments the stone removal process into distinct functional zones: the liquid jet creates a localized vacuum zone for attracting fragments, while the evacuation lumen provides a separate channel for efficient fragment removal. This segmentation allows simultaneous stone fragmentation and fragment evacuation, reducing overall operation time
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid jet acts as an intermediary mechanism between the stone and the evacuation system. By creating a Venturi vacuum effect, the liquid jet mediates the attraction of stone fragments toward the evacuation lumen, enabling more efficient fragment removal compared to traditional suction methods
2Productivity
If traditional lithotripsy methods are used, then kidney stones can be fragmented, but residual fragments are difficult to extract
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs hydraulic principles by using a liquid jet to generate a Venturi vacuum effect. This creates a low-pressure zone that actively draws fragmented stones into the evacuation lumen, significantly improving fragment extraction efficiency compared to passive suction methods
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid jet is positioned to pre-attract and concentrate stone fragments toward the evacuation lumen before formal evacuation begins. This preliminary action ensures that fragments are already positioned for easy removal, reducing the difficulty of fragment extraction
3Productivity
If high energy is used to fragment stones, then stone breakdown is effective, but thermal damage to surrounding tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid jet serves as a thermal intermediary, absorbing and dissipating heat generated during stone fragmentation. By positioning the liquid jet between the energy source and surrounding tissues, it protects adjacent structures from thermal damage while maintaining effective stone breakdown
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and properties of the liquid jet dynamically during the procedure. By adjusting liquid flow rate and pressure, the system optimizes both stone fragmentation efficiency and thermal protection, allowing high energy delivery when needed while preventing tissue damage
4Productivity
If liquid flow is increased to improve stone removal, then fragment evacuation is enhanced, but intra-luminal pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system segments fluid flow into distinct functional streams: the liquid jet provides high-velocity flow for creating vacuum and attracting fragments, while the evacuation lumen provides a separate, dedicated channel for fragment removal. This segmentation allows optimized flow rates in each channel without excessive pressure buildup
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different flow characteristics to different locations: high-velocity liquid jet flow locally at the stone site for effective fragment attraction, and controlled evacuation flow through the lumen for efficient fragment removal. This local differentiation maintains high evacuation rates while managing overall pressure
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 enhances the efficiency and safety of kidney stone removal by improving stone clearance rates, reducing procedural time, and minimizing complications like ureteral injury and thermal damage, setting a new standard for minimally invasive surgery.
Implementation Method 1
the supply lumen configured to eject the liquid as a liquid jet outside the supply lumen and create a vacuum at the one or more openings via a Venturi effect; wherein the vacuum created via the Venturi effect is configured to attract the biological object toward the one or more openings
Implementation Method 2
the system is configured to remove a plurality of fragments of the biological object from the urinary tract through the evacuation lumen toward the proximal end of the catheter body with a regulated fluid flow
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to medical aspiration devices and their methods of use. In some cases, the devices are configured to create a vacuum to capture and/or immobilize a solid deposit at a location internal to a subject. Such configurations may be useful, for example, for removing intact kidney stones small enough to pass through the ureter. In some cases, the devices further include an ablation instrument. Such devices may be useful, for example, for ablating larger solid deposits into a plurality of smaller particles at a location internal to the subject (e.g., ablating kidney stones that are too large to pass through the ureter). In some cases, the vacuum created by the devices is used to remove the plurality of smaller particles from the location internal to the subject.