IP Requirement: Emory IP

Experience Requirement:

– Mechanical Design

– Rapid Prototyping

Catheters are used in a variety of scenarios in image-guided medicine (IGM) and interventional radiology (IR). They are often used as “transit highways” for delivery of materials, such as embolics, stents, or balloons, as well as support systems for wire navigation. Having a “right length” catheter is critical. Too short and one will not reach the destination. Too long and the wire or delivery system of a stent or balloon will not reach through. Long catheters also risk contamination and challenges in room ergonomics. The estimated length often is not correct. Sometimes we modify a catheter that is too long by cutting it (which I did recently during an animal lab with a new robotic endovascular guidewire). Cutting it risks fatiguing the catheter in unpredictable ways, loses an intended shape on the end of the catheter, and often gets rid of the radiopaque marker that allows visualization.

A novel solution for dynamic/adjustable catheter lengths will be a game-changer in this space. The total addressable market is wide – it will impact not just interventional radiologists but also other endovascular specialists such as interventional cardiologists and vascular surgeons. It could impact other specialists who use endoluminal tools such as urologists and gastroenterologists. A design that is unique could also impact drainage catheter lengths such as those used to drain abscesses or decompressed obstructed systems, such as the biliary tree or urinary collecting systems. The design challenges will include ensuring appropriate diameter size to allow wires to pass through but not require larger sheaths and non-breakable components (which would lead to devastating embolization with foreign body fragments in a blood vessel).

An ideal solution would ensure it meets the design challenges above and also functions similar to other catheters we use. The dynamic lengthening/shortening tool should be user-friendly and intuitive.