Innovating stroke care: A performance study of the ALGO smart pump in smart static mode

Abstract

Introduction: While revascularization rates have improved for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke, advancements in aspiration pumps have been limited. The ALGO Smart Pump (Von Vascular, Sunrise, FL) is a small on-field, operator-driven pump offering two aspiration modes: Adaptive Pulsatile Aspiration (APA™) Mode and a continuous 'Static' mode. This study evaluates the performance of the ALGO Smart Pump's Static Mode compared to a commercially available aspiration pump. Methods: Operators performed aspiration thrombectomy in a flow model with ALGO and the Penumbra ENGINE (Penumbra, Alameda, CA) using medium (ID.036–.057”) to large (ID.068–.071) bore aspiration catheters. Primary endpoint was complete clot ingestion (CCI), defined as the full ingestion of the clot within the catheter or pump's canister, without any clot at the catheter tip or evidence of embolization to new territories (ENT). Secondary endpoints included first pass recanalization, ENT and total aspiration time. Results: When comparing all catheters, ALGO Smart Pump achieved CCI in 154 of 180 thrombectomies (85.6 %) compared to Penumbra ENGINE achieving CCI in 136 of 180 thrombectomies (75.6 %). The CCI rate between pump types across all catheters was statistically significant (p = 0.008), favoring ALGO pump. There was no difference between pump type on aspiration time. Conclusion: The ALGO Smart Pump may represent an alternative in MT, with potential higher effectiveness compared to existing available aspiration pumps with additional user-friendly benefits including a sterile, smaller, on-field apparatus.