California Patent of the Month – July 2024
Q’Apel Medical Inc., a medical device technology company, has secured a patent for their recent advancement in aspiration catheter technology designed with a movable hollow tip. This invention aims to address the persistent challenges faced during procedures that involve removing blockages, such as emboli, from body lumens.
The core of this innovation is a sophisticated tip structure featuring a support ring, a series of struts forming a cylindrical shape, and extensions that adaptively engage with blockages. The tip’s design allows it to maintain a neutral state or flex to conform to the shape of the embolus, ensuring a secure and effective seal during aspiration. This adaptability enhances the catheter’s ability to either aspirate the embolus through its lumen or adhere to the embolus for removal, significantly improving the chances of a successful procedure.
One of the notable features of this tip is its radiopaque markers. These markers are strategically placed to aid in the visualization of the catheter’s position and the embolus’s configuration during the procedure. This ensures that the medical professionals can accurately navigate and manipulate the catheter, enhancing the precision and safety of the intervention.
Additionally, the tip’s structure, made from resilient materials like nitinol, provides both flexibility and durability. The fluid-impermeable coating over the struts and extensions ensures effective suction transmission, further enhancing the catheter’s performance.
Q’Apel Medical’s innovative approach not only addresses the limitations of traditional aspiration catheters but also sets a new standard for medical device performance in treating vascular blockages. This invention exemplifies how cutting-edge design and material science can converge to create tools that significantly improve patient outcomes in critical medical procedures.
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