Progress Report 1/27/10
Group 9
Completed Work

Investigation into pros and cons of different methods of embolism extraction

Met with Dr. Peter Bream from VUMC Interventional Radiology
o Showed us recorded video from PE removal procedures
o Told us that the AngioJet was issued an FDA black box warning
o Introduced us to the Trellis device and described its benefits

Decided that a local thrombolytic and a device feature to catch fragments
downstream would be key
Current Work

Establishing BME contacts to give better idea of feasibility of possible design

Contacting catheter producers to obtain a catheter to examine

Deciding what mechanism would best catch fragments – possibly a basket like
device on end of guidewire

Researching possibility of using guidewire lumen to establish partial blood flow
downstream of clot
Future Work

Meetings with Dr. Bob Galloway and other BME faculty to discuss design
parameters, materials and overall design features

Contacting both Dr. Barnett and Dr. Bream to see if more OR footage and/or
equipment to inspect is available

Work with mechanical and civil engineering students to use CAD to model our
design