Bifurcated Endoprosthesis Stent Nesting for Low Profile Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoprostheses for treating abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms face challenges such as high mortality and morbidity rates, complex surgical procedures, and difficulties in achieving a secure, fluid-tight seal and anchoring in varied vascular conditions, including bifurcated, tortuous, and calcified vessels, while also being cumbersome and requiring invasive delivery methods.
Innovation Solution
An endoprosthesis design featuring a cranial section with bifurcated legs containing stent elements and longitudinal struts that provide structural support, allowing for nesting during delivery and enhanced columnar strength, along with a modular system that includes graft material attached to the stent elements and struts for secure anchoring and sealing, facilitating percutaneous delivery and reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical bypass with synthetic graft is used, then aneurysm can be treated, but mortality rate and morbidity are high
Solution Approach 1:
The endoprosthesis is divided into a cranial section and a bifurcated caudal section with separate legs, allowing modular delivery and deployment. The stent elements are segmented into multiple components that can be nested during delivery and expanded in situ, reducing surgical complexity while maintaining treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The bifurcated legs with stent elements are designed to nest within each other during delivery, reducing the profile of the device for percutaneous access. The longitudinal struts are positioned between stent elements to provide support while maintaining a compact nested configuration during delivery
2Adaptability or versatility
If endoprostheses are designed with bifurcated legs, then vascular coverage is improved, but device profile increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bifurcated legs are configured to nest within each other during delivery, with the stent elements of one leg positioned inside or alongside the other leg. This nesting arrangement significantly reduces the device profile for percutaneous delivery while maintaining the ability to provide coverage to both iliac arteries when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a compact nested configuration during delivery to a three-dimensional bifurcated structure when deployed. The longitudinal struts provide structural support in the expanded configuration while the stent elements can be staggered or nested to optimize both profile and vascular coverage
3Strength
If stent elements are used in bifurcated legs, then structural support is provided, but wear resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Different components of the endoprosthesis have different structural properties optimized for their specific functions. The longitudinal struts provide rigid columnar support where needed, while the stent elements provide flexibility and radial strength. The graft material provides the sealing surface. This local optimization of material and structural properties improves overall reliability while maintaining necessary strength
Solution Approach 2:
The endoprosthesis combines multiple materials with complementary properties: the longitudinal struts provide structural support, the stent elements provide radial strength and flexibility, and the graft material provides sealing and biocompatibility. This composite structure improves wear resistance while maintaining the necessary columnar strength for structural support
4Strength
If longitudinal struts are added to bifurcated legs, then columnar strength is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal struts are integrated with the stent elements to form a unified structural framework. The struts are positioned between the stent elements and work together to provide columnar support, reducing the need for additional separate support structures. This merging of components enhances strength while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An endoprosthesis for repairing and treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. The endoprosthesis features an anchoring and sealing component and low profile bifurcated legs. A biocompatible graft material is secured to at least the bifurcated legs in order to provide two endoleg fluid flow lumens or conduits. The bifurcated legs have staggered stent elements that nest to contribute to the low profile nature of the device and additional longitudinal struts between pair of the staggered stent elements to increase the longitudinal stiffness of the bifurcated legs while maintaining the patency of the lumen created thereby.