Angioplasty Balloon Flexibility via Segmented Support

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional angioplasty balloons lose flexibility when inflated, leading to stress and strain on stents and arteries, especially in curved vessels, causing inflammation and recurrent narrowing due to their stiffened configuration.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a supporting structure such as a braid, wrap, or mesh made from inelastic materials like nylon or Nitinol around the balloon, which allows the balloon to maintain flexibility by shortening and forming redundant folds when inflated, reducing longitudinal tension and enabling curvature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional low-compliance materials are used to construct angioplasty balloons to tolerate high inflation pressures, then the balloon attains uniform predictable diameters, but the balloon loses flexibility and becomes stiff when inflated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure toleranceVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The balloon is divided into multiple segments separated by circumferential grooves or hinges. These segments can move relative to each other, allowing the balloon to bend and flex while maintaining its diameter control. The segmentation enables differential movement between sections, preserving flexibility even when inflated to high pressures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon incorporates a composite structure combining low-compliance material with flexible elements such as hinges, grooves, or segmented sections. This composite design allows the main body to maintain pressure tolerance while the flexible components enable bending and curvature without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If the balloon is inflated to high pressures to expand stents completely, then stent expansion is complete, but the balloon becomes less flexible and may tear itself apart

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent expansion completenessVSAvoidballoon structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented structure allows each section to expand independently while remaining connected through flexible hinges or grooves. This prevents stress concentration that would lead to tearing, while still achieving complete stent expansion across the entire balloon surface when inflated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic, adaptable structure when inflated. The segments can move and adjust relative to each other, allowing the balloon to maintain structural integrity under high pressure while achieving complete expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a straight stent configuration is imposed on a curved artery, then the stent can be delivered, but stresses and strains are imparted to the stent structure and artery causing inflammation and recurrent narrowing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent deliveryVSAvoidinflammation and recurrent narrowing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented balloon with flexible connections allows the stent to be delivered in a curved configuration that matches the artery's natural shape. Each segment can bend independently, enabling the stent to follow the artery's curvature without imposing stressful straightened geometry, thereby preventing inflammation and recurrent narrowing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon's geometric parameters (shape, curvature, segment angles) can be adjusted to match the specific curvature requirements of different arterial sections. This allows optimization of the stent delivery configuration to minimize mechanical stress on both the stent and artery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution allows the balloon to maintain flexibility and dimensional stability even at high inflation pressures, preventing stent and artery damage by allowing the balloon to bend and curve, reducing the risk of inflammation and recurrent narrowing.

Implementation Method 1

which allows the balloon to maintain flexibility by shortening and forming redundant folds when inflated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRedundant folds: Folding

Data Source

PatentUS9782571B2Flexible high-pressure angioplasty balloons

Publication Date: 2017.10.10 CHUTER TIMOTHY A M

AI summary

Flexible high-pressure angioplasty balloons are disclosed herein which utilize an inflatable balloon positioned upon the catheter and a supporting structure secured over or along the catheter at a first location proximal to the balloon and at a second location distal to the balloon. Inflation of the balloon reconfigures the supporting structure to urge the first location and the second location towards one another thereby inhibiting longitudinal elongation of the balloon relative to the catheter. The supporting structure may surround, support, or otherwise extend over the entire length of the balloon and allows for the balloon to retain increased flexibility which enables the balloon to bend or curve even at relatively high inflation pressures.