Adjustable Vascular Graft Branches for Staged Aortic Arch Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures for treating vascular aneurysms are invasive and require prolonged recovery times, with conventional methods involving open surgery or endovascular repair that can be risky and time-consuming, especially for high-risk patients, and lack flexibility to accommodate anatomical variance.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid endoprosthetic device with an adjustable length docking branch and modular assembly that allows for staged deployment and connection with aortic arch branch arteries, enabling early perfusion and reducing ischemia time, and includes features like crimped fabric sleeves for length adjustment and integrated valves for air removal and flushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional open surgery is used to replace affected blood vessel, then reliable vascular repair can be achieved, but patient requires prolonged recovery periods and invasive procedure with general anaesthesia
Solution Approach 1:
The vascular graft is divided into modular segments that can be assembled in situ within the patient's body. The delivery system separates the graft components and allows sequential deployment, enabling minimally invasive insertion while maintaining the structural integrity and reliability of the complete graft assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular graft components are nested within a delivery catheter system for minimally invasive insertion. The compressed graft segments are contained within the delivery system, which guides them through the patient's vasculature to the target site, reducing procedural invasiveness while ensuring proper positioning.
2Ease of operation
If endovascular repair techniques are used, then minimally invasive procedure can be performed, but device lacks flexibility to accommodate anatomical variance
Solution Approach 1:
The vascular graft incorporates adjustable-length docking branches that can be modified during the procedure to match the patient's specific anatomy. The modular design allows the graft to be dynamically adapted to varying anatomical configurations while maintaining minimally invasive delivery through the catheter system.
Solution Approach 2:
The graft structure allows for parameter adjustments including branch length modifications and positioning variations to accommodate different anatomical presentations. These parameter changes enable the same modular device to adapt to diverse patient geometries without requiring completely different device designs.
3Device complexity
If fixed-length docking branch is used in endoprosthetic device, then device structure can be simplified, but device cannot accommodate anatomical variance in patients
Solution Approach 1:
The docking branch is segmented into adjustable sections that can be configured to different lengths during the procedure. This segmentation maintains relatively simple individual components while enabling variable final configurations to match patient anatomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking branch transitions from a fixed structure in the packaged state to an adjustable structure during deployment. The branch can be extended or reconfigured to accommodate anatomical variance, providing dynamic adaptability without significantly complicating the base device structure.
4Productivity
If air is not removed from endoprosthetic device, then procedure can be completed faster, but blood flow is compromised and ischemia risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
Air removal and flushing capabilities are integrated into the device deployment sequence, allowing air to be expelled through dedicated valves before final blood flow restoration. This preliminary action ensures reliable perfusion without significantly extending the overall procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
Dedicated air removal valves and flushing ports serve as intermediary mechanisms that facilitate the transition from device insertion to functional blood flow. These intermediaries enable efficient air evacuation and system priming, ensuring reliable blood flow restoration while maintaining procedural efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
An endoprosthetic device (1) comprises a tubular main body (3) having a length including proximal and distal portions (11, 13), the tubular main body having a flexible portion between the proximal and distal portions, and at least one adjustable length docking branch (5) extending laterally from the tubular main body (3), and having sections bearing a tab or loop (17) graspable by a user, and optionally further having at least one auxiliary branch (7), and at least one access branch (9), for assembly with at least one tubular branch body (36) having a laterally extending access branch (37), using a delivery system including a delivery shaft (103), and a retrieval capsule (81) and corresponding press-fit retrieval pin (57) and retrieval wire (83), wherein the delivery shaft (103) is provided with a pivotal slotted housing (101) serving as a user handle for the delivery shaft (103).