Braided Vascular Occluder Structure for Angled Vessel Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular occlusion devices face challenges in aligning with anatomical variations due to limited flexibility between disk and cylindrical portions, leading to improper retention and potential interference with blood flow.
Innovation Solution
The devices are formed from a resilient metal fabric with a braided structure, featuring a small transition diameter between disk and cylindrical portions, and include flexible Nitinol hooks for improved alignment and retention, allowing for precise positioning and secure anchoring in vessels with non-perpendicular apertures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the device uses a rigid cylindrical portion connecting disk elements, then structural stability is improved, but flexibility for aligning with non-perpendicular vessel walls deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct segments: disk elements, cylindrical portion, and transition portions. Each segment has optimized properties - the cylindrical portion provides structural stability while the transition portions provide flexibility through reduced diameter and braided construction, allowing the device to adapt to non-perpendicular vessel walls
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the device have different structural qualities tailored to their functions. The disk elements are rigid for occlusion, the cylindrical portion is stable for anchoring, while the transition portions are flexible with reduced diameter to enable alignment with angled vessel walls. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall stability and localized flexibility
2Reliability
If the disk diameter is increased to improve occlusion effectiveness, then occlusion effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of delivery through catheter deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a static large-diameter structure to a dynamic system that can change configuration. The braided fabric construction allows the device to be compressed into a small delivery profile while expanding to a large occlusive diameter at the treatment site. The transition portions enable this dynamic size change, resolving the contradiction between large occlusion diameter and small delivery profile
3Reliability
If the cylindrical portion diameter is made larger than the vessel diameter for retention, then device retention is improved, but blood flow interference and gaps between device and vessel wall increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a braided fabric construction that acts as a flexible shell, allowing the cylindrical portion to conform to the vessel wall geometry. This flexibility enables the device to achieve retention through friction and engagement with the vessel wall without requiring excessive diameter that would cause gaps or blood flow interference
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes changes in diameter parameters along its length - the cylindrical portion has a diameter slightly larger than the vessel for retention, while the transition portions have reduced diameters that allow the device to conform to the vessel wall without creating gaps or interfering with blood flow in adjacent regions
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 improved flexibility and retention mechanism ensures effective occlusion by aligning with varied anatomical conditions, reducing gaps and enhancing the device's ability to remain in place, thus minimizing blood flow disruption.
Implementation Method 1
flexible Nitinol hooks for improved alignment and retention
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an improved vascular occlusion device having improved flexibility and retention of the type fabricated from braided tubular metal fabric having an expanded preset configuration and an elongated collapsed reduced diameter configuration for delivery through a catheter to a treatment site and shaped to create an occlusion of an abnormal opening in a body organ or vessel, the woven metal fabric having a memory property whereby the medical device tends to return to said expanded preset configuration when unconstrained. The device further including at least one disk portion adjacent a body cylindrical portion formed from the fabric and having a transition diameter between the disk and cylindrical portion, significantly smaller than the diameter of the disk and the diameter of the cylindrical portion.