Mechanically resonant pulse relief valve for assisted clearing of plugged aspiration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12514599-B2
Application number	US-202117387949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2021
Priority date	Jan 23, 2020
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

An aspiration system comprises an aspiration catheter, an aspiration source fluidly coupled to the aspiration catheter to create an aspiration flow path between the aspiration catheter and the aspiration source, a pressurized fluid source, and a passive pressure oscillation assembly fluidly coupled between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path. The passive pressure oscillation assembly is configured for being operated between a normal mode that prevents fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path, and an oscillatory mode that pulses fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path. The passive pressure oscillation assembly is configured for being triggered to switch from the normal mode to the oscillatory mode in response to a clog in the aspiration catheter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A manifold for use with an aspiration catheter, an aspiration source, and a pressurized fluid source, the manifold comprising:
an aspiration outlet configured for being fluidly coupled the aspiration source; an aspiration inlet configured for being fluidly coupled to the aspiration catheter, such that an aspiration flow path is formed between the aspiration catheter and the aspiration source; a relief inlet configured for being fluidly coupled to the pressurized fluid source; and a passive pressure oscillation assembly fluidly coupled between the relief inlet and the aspiration flow path, the passive pressure oscillation assembly configured for being operated between a normal mode that prevents fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path, and an oscillatory mode that pulses fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path, wherein the passive pressure oscillation assembly is configured for being triggered to operate in the oscillatory mode in response to a clog in the aspiration catheter.

2 . The manifold of claim 1 , wherein the passive pressure oscillation assembly is configured for being triggered to switch from the oscillatory mode to the normal mode in response to removal of the clog from the aspiration catheter.

3 . The manifold of claim 1 , wherein the passive pressure oscillation assembly comprises:
a pressure actuated valve configured for opening in response to the clog in the aspiration catheter, thereby allowing a flow of fluid originating from the pressurized fluid source through the pressure actuated valve; and a fluid resonator configured for resonating in response to the flow of fluid originating from the pressurized fluid source through the pressure actuated valve, thereby pulsing the fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path.

4 . The manifold of claim 3 , wherein the pressure actuated valve and fluid resonator are mechanically coupled to each other.

5 . The manifold of claim 3 , wherein the pressure actuated valve and fluid resonator are mechanically decoupled from each other.

6 . The manifold of claim 3 , wherein the fluid resonator is configured for resonating at a first frequency in response to the flow of fluid originating from the pressurized fluid source through the pressure actuated valve, thereby pulsing the fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path at the first frequency, wherein the pressure actuated valve further comprises another fluid resonator configured for resonating at a second frequency different from the first frequency in response to the flow of fluid originating from the pressurized fluid source through the pressure actuated valve, thereby pulsing the fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path at the second frequency.

7 . The manifold of claim 1 , wherein the passive pressure oscillation assembly comprises:
a valve seal fluidly coupled to the relief inlet; a movable valve element; an enlarged flow cavity fluidly coupled to the aspiration flow path, the enlarged flow cavity having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the movable valve element; and a spring configured for applying a biasing force to the movable valve element to maintain the movable valve element in a closed position against the valve seal to prevent the flow of the fluid originating from the pressurized fluid source into the enlarged flow cavity, wherein the movable valve element is configured for, in response to the clog in the aspiration catheter that causes the fluid originating from the pressurized fluid source to apply an opposing force to the movable valve element that overcomes the biasing force applied by the spring to the movable valve element, being displaced from the closed position to an open position away from the valve seal and into the enlarged flow cavity to allow the flow of the fluid originating from the pressurized fluid source, through the valve seal, through the enlarged flow cavity, and into the aspiration flow path; wherein the biasing force applied by the spring to the movable valve element, the opposing force applied by the fluid originating from the pressurized fluid source, and the mass of the movable valve element are selected, such that the movable valve element oscillates between the closed position and the open position.

8 . The manifold of claim 7 , wherein the movable valve element comprises one of a disk and a ball, and the valve seal comprises a valve seat.

9 . The manifold of claim 7 , wherein the movable valve element comprises a disk, and the valve seal comprises a valve cylinder.

10 . The manifold of claim 7 , wherein the passive pressure oscillation assembly further comprises:
a plunger cavity disposed between the valve seal and the relief inlet; a plunger head slidably disposed within the plunger cavity, the plunger head having a channel extending through the plunger head, such that the valve seal is fluidly coupled to the relief inlet to equalize pressure between the pressurized fluid source and the plunger cavity; another spring configured for applying a biasing force to the plunger head to maintain the movable valve element away from the stop; wherein the fluid originating from the pressurized fluid source that applies the opposing force to the movable valve element in response to the clog in the aspiration catheter resides within the plunger cavity; and wherein the flow of the fluid from the plunger cavity, through the valve seal, through the enlarged flow cavity, and into the aspiration flow path, causes fluid from the pressurized fluid source to apply an opposing force to the plunger that overcomes biasing force applied by the other spring to the plunger, such that the plunger head is displaced within the plunger cavity until the plunger abuts the stopper, thereby preventing flow of the fluid from the plunger cavity, through the valve seal, through the enlarged flow cavity, and into the aspiration flow path, and allowing the biasing force applied by the spring to the movable valve element to displace the movable valve element from the open position back to the closed position.

11 . The manifold of claim 10 , wherein the passive pressure oscillation assembly further comprises a reduced profile center cavity fluidly coupled between the valve seal and the plunger cavity, wherein the plunger stop is formed by a wall of the plunger cavity adjacent the reduced profile center cavity.

12 . The manifold of claim 1 , wherein the oscillatory mode of the passive pressure oscillation assembly pulses fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path at a frequency in the range of 0.2 Hz-10 Hz.

13 . The manifold of claim 1 , wherein the oscillatory mode of the passive pressure oscillation assembly pulses fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path concurrently at a first frequency and at second frequency different from the first frequency.

14 . The manifold of claim 13 , wherein the first frequency is in the range of 0.2 Hz-10 Hz, and the second frequency is in the range of 100 Hz-400 Hz.

15 . The manifold of claim 1 , wherein the passive pressure oscillation assembly comprises:
a plunger cavity; a plunger assembly slidably disposed within the plunger cavity, the plunger assembly including a rod, a first plunger head affixed to the rod, and a second plunger head affixed to the rod in a spaced apart relationship with the first plung

Assignees

• Stryker Corp
• Stryker European Operations Ltd

Inventors

• Porter Stephen

Classifications

• A61B2017/22079

  with suction of debris · CPC title

• A61B2217/005

  with suction drainage system · CPC title

• A61M2025/0019

  Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement · CPC title

• A61M1/743

  by changing the cross-section of the line, e.g. flow regulating valves (A61M1/7413 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2090/064

  for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension · CPC title