Invention Description
Large blood clots in the lower limbs can obstruct blood flow and require timely removal to prevent serious complications. Existing clot-removal procedures often depend heavily on skilled operators and can risk damaging vessel walls during navigation and extraction. Removing larger clots can be especially challenging because tools must generate sufficient pulling force while maintaining precise control. There is a need for safer, more automated approaches that improve clot removal while reducing operator dependency.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed an image-guided robotic system to enable autonomous thrombectomy in the lower limbs, particularly for the removal of extremely large blood clots. The platform combines robotic magnetic manipulation, real-time imaging, computer vision, and trajectory planning to steer thorugh bent or curved vessels, penetrate the targeted clots, capture them and retract them. Visual feedback helps regulate removal speed and minimize vascular trauma while maintaining sufficient pulling force. The system reduces the need for extensive operator training while providing a tele-operative mode for manual intervention when needed.
This autonomous robotic system leverages computer vision and magnetic manipulation to remove large blood clots in the lower limbs with minimal vascular damage and reduced operator dependency.
Potential Applications
- Minimally invasive thrombectomy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and arterial thromboembolism
- Hospital interventional radiology and vascular surgery departments
- Emergency care units treating acute limb ischemia
- Development of advanced robotic-assisted vascular intervention platforms
- Training solutions for endovascular specialists leveraging reduced learning curves
Benefits and Advantages
- Autonomous clot removal with reduced human intervention and training requirements
- Minimized vascular trauma due to flexible, silicone-coated magnetic tool chains
- Real-time imaging feedback through a flexibly mounted acquisition module
- Robotic external magnetic manipulation adaptable to varied patient anatomy
- Seamless tele-operative interface for safe manual overrides
- Modular design scalable to different clot sizes and vascular geometries
- Potential adaptability to other vascular interventions beyond thrombectomy