Aortic Connector Sheath Deployment for Precise Robotic Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for deploying aortic connectors during complex thoracic aortic disease treatment are lengthy, complex, and risky due to the need for open surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, posing significant survival risks to patients.
Innovation Solution
A vascular connector deployment tool with a rotatable inner sheath and telescopically deployable outer sheath, translating rotational motion into longitudinal motion to expose the connector, facilitating precise deployment using a drive mechanism and visual markers, suitable for robotic assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional open surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is used to deploy aortic connectors, then the connectors can be securely deployed in complex thoracic aortic disease, but the surgical time is prolonged and patient risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment tool is divided into multiple functional components: an outer sheath for constraining the connector, an inner sheath for delivering and deploying the connector, and a drive mechanism for controlled actuation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing overall procedure time while maintaining deployment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is pre-loaded into the deployment tool in a compressed state within the outer sheath before patient insertion. The entire delivery system is prepared in advance with the connector positioned and constrained, allowing for rapid deployment once in position without requiring complex intra-procedural assembly steps
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional manual deployment methods are used, then the procedure can be performed with simpler equipment, but the precision and speed of connector deployment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical manipulation of the connector is replaced with a controlled drive mechanism that translates rotational motion of the inner sheath into precise longitudinal motion of the outer sheath. This mechanical substitution provides more precise and repeatable deployment control compared to manual methods, while the modular design keeps the added complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The inner sheath acts as an intermediary component between the operator's rotational input and the outer sheath's longitudinal movement. This intermediary mechanism translates and controls the deployment action, providing precise positioning control while isolating the complexity of the translation mechanism from both the operator and the connector
3Ease of operation
If the connector is exposed to body temperature for extended periods during deployment, then the deployment process can be completed thoroughly, but the connector material properties may change and patient risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment process is designed to rapidly transition the connector from the constrained state in the outer sheath to the deployed state in a single controlled motion. This rapid deployment minimizes the time the connector spends in a vulnerable intermediate state at body temperature, reducing material property changes while still achieving complete deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The outer sheath provides a protective environment for the connector during delivery, shielding it from body temperature exposure until just before deployment. This prior protection cushions the connector against premature thermal effects, and the quick deployment that follows minimizes subsequent exposure time
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
Enables minimally invasive, precise, and expedited deployment of vascular connectors, reducing surgical duration and associated risks, and allowing for robotic-assisted procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the outer sheath is constrained by a drive to translate a rotational motion of the inner sheath into a longitudinal motion of the outer sheath
Implementation Method 2
expanding a connector from an insertion profile to a deployed profile to secure the graft to a vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A deployment tool and associated method are disclosed for implanting a vascular connector in a patient. The vascular connector deployment tool has a housing, an inner sheath extending distally from the housing, a floating mandrel, a vascular connector disposed coaxially about the mandrel, and an outer sheath telescopically deployed over an inner sheath. The outer sheath constrains the vascular connector around the mandrel in an insertion profile when the outer sheath is disposed over the vascular connector. The inner sheath may be rotated to cause the outer sheath to retract relative to the floating mandrel and expose sequential portions of the vascular connector. A drive disposed within the housing and coupled to a proximal end of the outer sheath translates rotational motion of the inner sheath into longitudinal motion of the outer sheath.