In-vitro testing of RF-enabled low force mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurosurgery
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Mechanical thrombectomy is a key treatment for ischemic stroke, offering high recanalization rates.
• Current thrombectomy devices can cause vessel stenosis and stroke recurrence due to clot caging against vessel walls.
• Minimizing radial force and vessel friction is crucial for safer thrombectomy procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the use of localized Radio Frequency (RF) energy for clot engagement and retrieval in mechanical thrombectomy.
• To develop and test novel RF-enabled mechanical thrombectomy devices designed to reduce vessel wall damage.
• To evaluate the efficacy of RF-assisted thrombectomy in capturing and removing blood clots ex vivo.

Main Methods:

• Development of new mechanical thrombectomy devices incorporating localized RF energy (Patent No.: US 62/172,043).
• Ex vivo testing of the RF-enabled devices using human blood clots within artificial vessels.
• Assessment of clot capture and retrieval success rates and reproducibility.

Main Results:

• The RF-mechanical thrombectomy devices successfully captured and retrieved human blood clots ex vivo.
• The novel approach demonstrated effective clot retrieval without relying on stent caging against the vessel wall.
• The method showed potential for reproducible clot removal with reduced reliance on mechanical force.

Conclusions:

• RF-enabled mechanical thrombectomy presents a promising alternative to conventional methods for ischemic stroke treatment.
• This technology may reduce vessel stenosis and damage associated with current thrombectomy devices.
• Further in vivo animal studies are planned to compare vessel wall trauma between RF-mechanical and conventional thrombectomy.