2015-167 Expandable Vascular Sheath for the Removal of Foreign Objects in the Vasculature

SUMMARY:

UCLA researchers in the Department of Radiology have developed a novel expandable vascular sheath that can be used for encasement and facilitated extraction of foreign objects that have a larger cross section than existing vascular sheaths.

BACKGROUND:

Medical professionals are commonly required to perform non-invasive procedures for the removal of foreign objects from a patient’s vasculature. One example of a foreign object that is commonly removed from the vasculature is a vascular filter. Each year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of patients opt for a vascular filter treatment if they are negatively affected by deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). These filters, commonly called inferior vena cava (IVC) filters, can become dislodged and migrate, making removal of the filters difficult. Other foreign objects that may result in similar complications include stents, catheter fragments, embolization coils and pacemaker leads. Due to limited sheath diameter, currently available vascular sheaths are unfit to accommodate the retraction of many foreign objects such as those with large profile size, sharp edges, or unusual orientation.

INNOVATION:
Researchers at UCLA have developed a vascular sheath whose diameter can be increased temporarily to allow for capture and retrieval of various foreign objects such as IVC filters. Whereas other vascular sheaths are limited by inflexible tips, this new technology has an expandable feature that allows for adjustment to the irregular size and shape of foreign objects. 

POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:

• Extraction of foreign bodies in the vasculature (IVC filters, stents, catheter fragments, etc).

ADVANTAGES:

• Expandable tip allows for design of a single vascular sheath that is capable of capturing foreign bodies with a wide range of sizes and shapes

DEVELOPMENT TO DATE: 

Device Development is ongoing.