Study on the size of intravascular plaque debris based on grinding wheel surface characteristics

Rotational atherectomy (RA) is a minimally invasive technique that involves introducing a micro-grinding wheel into blood vessels to grind away calcified plaque obstructing the vessels. One major clinical complication of plaque rotational abrasion is the migration of abrasion debris through the bloodstream to capillaries, causing blockages that impair blood return to the heart. Therefore, in-depth investigation of the particle size distribution characteristics of debris generated during rotational abrasion and its underlying mechanisms holds significant clinical importance for enhancing procedural safety and improving patient outcomes. This study experimentally investigated the influence mechanism of grinding wheel surface characteristic (abrasive particle size, protrusion height, distribution density, and surface roughness) on debris size distribution, proposing a Weibull distribution model for debris size based on the characteristics of the grinding wheel. Results indicate that abrasive particle size primarily influences the generation of large debris. Protrusion height controls peak debris size by altering effective cutting depth. Distribution density influences the quantity of small-sized debris (D03) by adjusting the number of effective cutting points. Surface roughness modulates the concentration of intermediate size distribution. By matching grinding wheel surface characteristics with rotary grinding process parameters, large-sized debris generation was suppressed. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for developing high-performance rotary grinding diamond grinding wheels.