Braided Intrasaccular Occluder for Wide-Neck Aneurysm Conformability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vessel occlusion methods face challenges in treating complex vascular geometries, particularly in aneurysms with wide necks or irregular shapes, as traditional coils and clips struggle with placement and retention, leading to inefficient blood flow restriction.

Innovation Solution

A detachable intrasaccular occlusive device formed from braided wires, which expands to conform to the vessel shape, allowing for precise occlusion and subsequent delivery of embolic agents through a catheter, with a tether mechanism to maintain tension and ensure full expansion, facilitating better retention and occlusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional embolic coils are used for vessel occlusion, then the procedure is simple to perform, but the device cannot effectively conform to complex vascular geometries or maintain retention in aneurysms with wide necks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconformability to complex vascular geometriesVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The occlusive device is constructed from multiple interconnected elements including a three-dimensional braid structure, tethers, and expansion mechanisms that can independently adapt to different geometric requirements. This segmentation allows each component to contribute to overall conformability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded deployed state, dynamically adapting its shape to match the target vascular geometry. The braid structure and tethers work together to enable this dynamic transformation, allowing the device to conform to complex geometries only when needed in the deployed configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the occlusive device expands fully without tension control, then the expansion is rapid and simple, but the device cannot maintain proper shape or ensure full expansion against vessel walls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretention and shape maintenanceVSAvoidtether mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tethers function as tensioning elements that counteract the natural relaxation forces of the expanding braid structure. By applying controlled tension through the tethers, the device maintains its expanded shape and ensures proper contact with vessel walls, balancing the expansion forces without requiring complex active control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The device controls expansion through changes in tether tension rather than complex mechanical mechanisms. By adjusting the tension parameter in the tethers, the system achieves reliable shape maintenance and full expansion while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through simple parameter control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the device is designed for quick occlusion, then the procedure time is reduced, but the device cannot ensure proper conformance to the vessel shape and effective embolic agent retention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveocclusion speedVSAvoidplacement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device is pre-configured in a compressed state within the delivery catheter with the braid structure and tethers already positioned for optimal deployment. This preliminary arrangement allows the device to rapidly expand into the target geometry upon deployment while ensuring proper conformance and embolic agent retention without requiring complex real-time adjustment procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 device effectively occludes complex vascular structures by conforming to their shapes, enhancing blood flow restriction and improving the retention of embolic agents, thereby improving the efficacy of vessel occlusion procedures.

Implementation Method 1

The three-dimensional structure is configured to have a linear compressed shape within the delivery device. The three-dimensional structure is configured to have an expanded state that expands away from an axis of a distal end of the delivery device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The occlusive device comprises a tether connected at a distal end and a proximal end of the three-dimensional structure. The tether is configured to maintain tension on one side of the three-dimensional structure during its expansion and to allow full expansion on the opposite side so as to cause the three-dimensional structure to curve in the direction of the tether

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Data Source

PatentEP3456272B1Devices for vascular occlusion
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 MICROVENTION INC
  • EP3456272B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3456272B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4C
  • EP3456272B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An occlusive device (64, 160) for medical treatment of a vascular condition is described. The device comprises a three-dimensional structure formed from a plurality of braided wires and being selectively detachable from a delivery pusher (60). The three-dimensional structure has a linear compressed shape within a catheter (8), and has an expanded state that expands away from an axis of a distal end of the delivery pusher in a longitudinally angled and an axially offset manner when not contained within the catheter.