Adjustable Shunt Delivery With Priming Ports for Precise Implantation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shunting systems for treating conditions like glaucoma lack the ability to adjust therapy flow rates and are difficult to deliver precisely to target treatment locations within patients, necessitating improved systems and delivery methods.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system for adjustable shunting systems that includes a drive assembly and a driven assembly, allowing for the transition between states for implantation and featuring priming ports to reduce fluid resistance, enabling precise placement and adjustment of shunt systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional shunting systems are used, then the structure is simple and ease of manufacture is good, but the ability to adjust therapy flow rates is lacking and manufacturing precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The shunting system is divided into multiple components including a shunt body, flow control mechanism, and delivery system components. This segmentation allows for precise manufacturing of each component while maintaining overall system functionality, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shunting system incorporates adjustable flow control mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of therapy parameters after implantation. This dynamic capability enables precise control of fluid flow rates while using standardized manufacturing processes, balancing manufacturing precision with manageable device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional delivery methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the delivery precision to target treatment locations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The shunt device is nested within a delivery catheter system that guides it to the target location. The delivery system includes nested components such as the shunt within the catheter, and the catheter within the delivery apparatus, enabling precise delivery to target treatment locations while managing overall system complexity through hierarchical organization.
Solution Approach 2:
A delivery catheter acts as an intermediary between the shunt device and the target treatment location. This intermediary component enables precise navigation and placement of the shunt while simplifying the overall delivery process, resolving the contradiction between delivery precision and system complexity.
3Productivity
If conventional shunting systems are used, then the device structure is simple, but the fluid resistance is high and flow rate control is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The shunting system incorporates adjustable flow control mechanisms that modify physical parameters such as aperture size and flow resistance. These parameter changes enable precise control of fluid flow rates to optimize therapeutic effectiveness while managing system complexity through controlled adjustment capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static flow control to dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing the flow rate to be modified after implantation. This dynamic control improves therapeutic effectiveness by enabling optimization of fluid flow rates while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized adjustment mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system facilitates precise implantation and reduces fluid resistance, enhancing the effectiveness of shunting systems in treating conditions like glaucoma by allowing for adjustable flow rates and improved delivery precision.
Implementation Method 1
A delivery system for adjustable shunting systems includes a drive assembly and a driven assembly, allowing for the transition between states for implantation
Implementation Method 2
featuring priming ports to reduce fluid resistance
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology is generally directed to shunt delivery systems and associated methods for delivering and deploying adjustable shunts. In some embodiments, the delivery systems include a device that can be easily held and manipulated by a physician or other user during an implant procedure. In some embodiments, the delivery system can be configured to facilitate priming of the adjustable shunt, such as before implantation of the adjustable shunt. In at least some embodiments, for example, the delivery system can include one or more priming ports or apertures fluidly coupled to the intraocular shunting system at least when the delivery system is in the first state. Fluid can be introduced into the delivery system via individual ones of the priming ports and flow toward and/or into the adjustable shunt to thereby “prime” the adjustable shunt.