Laser-Activated Shape Memory Polymer Microactuator for Thrombus Removal Following Ischemic Stroke: Preliminary In Vitro Analysis Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Due to the narrow (3-h) treatment window for effective use of the thrombolytic drug recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA), there is a need to develop alternative treatments for ischemic stroke. We are developing an intravascular device for mechanical thrombus removal using shape memory polymer (SMP). We propose to deliver the SMP microactuator in its secondary straight rod form (length = 4 cm, diameter = 350 m) through a catheter distal to the vascular occlusion. The microactuator, which is mounted on the end of an optical fiber, is then transformed into its primary corkscrew shape by laser heating (diode laser, A = 800 nm) above its soft-phase glass transition temperature (T gs = 55C). Once deployed, the microactuator is retracted, and the captured thrombus is removed to restore blood flow. The SMP is doped with indocyanine green (ICG) dye to increase absorption of the laser light. Successful deployment of the microactuator depends on the optical properties of the ICG-doped SMP, as well as the optical coupling efficiency of the interface between the optical fiber and the SMP. Spectrophotometry, thermal imaging, and computer simulation aided the initial design effort and continue to be useful tools for optimization of the dye concentration and laser power. Thermomechanical testing was performed to characterize the elastic modulus of the SMP. We have demonstrated laser activation of the SMP microactuator in air at room temperature, suggesting this concept is a promising therapeutic alternative to rt-PA. 2005 IEEE.

published proceedings

  • IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics

altmetric score

  • 3

author list (cited authors)

  • Small, W., Metzger, M. F., Wilson, T. S., & Maitland, D. J.

citation count

  • 71

complete list of authors

  • Small, Ward||Metzger, Melodie F||Wilson, Thomas S||Maitland, Duncan J

publication date

  • January 2005