Removing vascular obstructions: a challenge, yet an opportunity for interventional microdevices

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Research
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases are the primary global cause of mortality.
• Vascular obstructions, primarily thrombi and atherosclerotic plaques, are the main culprits.
• Existing removal strategies have limitations and are not fully conclusive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the physical mechanisms of current vascular obstruction removal strategies.
• To classify existing methods into chemical, mechanical, laser, and hybrid approaches.
• To highlight challenges and opportunities for interventional micro/nanodevices in treating vascular obstructions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications, buyer's guides, and FDA databases.
• Analysis of physical mechanisms underlying state-of-art removal strategies.
• Classification of removal strategies and review of associated devices and procedures.

Main Results:

• Current strategies for removing vascular obstructions are categorized into chemical, mechanical, laser, and hybrid (chemo-mechanical, mechano-chemical) approaches.
• A review of commercial and research tools, devices, and procedures for these strategies is presented.
• Recent literature (over 70% since 2006) reflects advancements in the field, particularly in removal tools and procedures.

Conclusions:

• There is a need for innovative biomedical solutions to address limitations in current vascular obstruction treatments.
• Interventional micro/nanodevices present significant opportunities for advancing treatment efficacy.
• This review aims to guide engineers, researchers, and medical professionals in developing novel therapeutic approaches.