Background

AVMs are abnormal tangles of blood vessels that occur randomly in humans and can lead to disastrous circumstances. Endovascular treatment of AVMs is to occlude the malformation with embolic material. This is typically performed by navigating a catheter to the arterial supply and injecting a liquid embolic agent into the AVM, sealing it off from the vasculature. Consequences occur when the embolic agent flows into normal blood vessels, which can cause hemorrhage or stroke.

Currently, several different catheter types used for AVM embolization: microcatheters, balloon microcatheters, and detachable tip microcatheters. Balloon microcatheters protect the normal brain from embolic agent reflex but the glues that are used can adhere to the balloon, leading to difficulty in catheter removal. Detachable tip microcatheters are designed to leave the detachable tip adhered the embolic agent while the rest of the device is removed safely from the body but have no protective mechanism for glue reflux.

Technology Overview

The proposed device developed at Mount Sinai is a novel detachable-tip balloon microcatheter that leverages the combined advantages of each current catheter type ().

Stage of Development

Demonstrated the proof of concept of the novel balloon-protective sheet design with a prototype
Ex vivo mechanical testing demonstrated that the prototype requires a significantly lower detachment force compared to a competitor device

Benefits

Facilitate a more complete embolization of AVMs
Fewer overall treatment sessions required to achieve desired outcomes
Allows for a greater control of the delivery of the embolic agent
Decreases procedure time
Improved operator experience (faster, simpler, and more ergonomic)

Applications

Microcatheter designed with a unique detachment mechanism for surgeons to easily and ergonomically detach tip from catheter, without putting undue tension on the brain to treat AMVs

Detachable-tip Balloon Microcatheter for Embolization of Vascular Pathology

IP Status