Braided Vascular Occlusion Device with Segmented Stem
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical implants for occluding vascular defects lack flexibility and compactness, making them difficult to deliver through tortuous channels and maintain secure attachment in the body, while also posing risks of embolic complications due to debris dislodgement in high-pressure blood environments.
Innovation Solution
A braided occlusion device with a self-expandable design, comprising a tubular member and an expanded diameter portion connected by a stem, which can be compactly delivered and securely attach to vascular sites, utilizing heat-setting and shape-memory materials to accommodate anatomical variations and maintain flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double disc design is used for occlusion devices, then secure attachment to vascular walls is improved, but device complexity and delivery difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into functionally independent elements: a body portion for securing to the vascular wall and a separate occlusion element for blocking the defect. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall delivery mechanism compared to integrated double disc designs.
Solution Approach 2:
A delivery catheter serves as an intermediary tool to facilitate the deployment of the occlusion device. The catheter provides a controlled delivery mechanism that simplifies the implantation process and reduces the complexity requirements of the device itself.
2Reliability
If device diameter and length are increased to ensure secure occlusion, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but flexibility during delivery through tortuous channels deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates dynamic characteristics through its construction, allowing it to adapt its configuration during delivery and deployment. The body portion and occlusion element can move relative to each other and adjust their spatial arrangement to navigate tortuous channels while maintaining occlusion effectiveness at the target site.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes flexible structural elements that allow bending and deformation during delivery through tortuous vascular channels. The body portion and occlusion element are constructed to maintain flexibility while providing sufficient surface area for secure attachment and effective occlusion.
3Stability of the object's composition
If device structure is made more rigid to maintain shape, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to anatomical movements and individual patient variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic configuration that can adapt to anatomical movements and individual patient variations. The body portion and occlusion element can move relative to each other, allowing the device to accommodate changes in vascular geometry while maintaining structural integrity and occlusion effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the device into a body portion and occlusion element, each component can independently adapt to anatomical variations. The body portion can adjust to different vascular geometries while the occlusion element maintains its blocking function, providing both structural stability and adaptability.
4Ease of operation
If device is made more compact for easier delivery, then delivery ease is improved, but secure attachment and occlusion effectiveness at target site deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a compact body portion for easy delivery and a separate occlusion element for effective blocking. This segmentation allows the delivery portion to be minimized in size while the occlusion element provides sufficient surface area for secure attachment and effective occlusion at the target site.
Solution Approach 2:
The occlusion element is positioned within or adjacent to the body portion, creating a nested configuration that minimizes the overall device footprint for easy delivery through catheters. Upon deployment, the occlusion element extends to provide secure attachment and effective occlusion, achieving both compact delivery and reliable attachment.
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 achieves secure and flexible attachment to varying anatomical sites, reducing the risk of embolic complications and improving delivery safety by maintaining compactness and flexibility, allowing for effective occlusion of vascular defects without dislodgement.
Implementation Method 1
forming the braiding in a first heat setting step to a first intermediate shape comprising a tubular member and an expanded diameter portion
Implementation Method 2
The braiding has an unloaded relaxed state and a stretched state
Data Source
AI summary
A medical implantable occlusion device (100) is disclosed comprising a braiding of at least one thread, an expanded diameter portion (102), and a tubular member (103) having a distal endpoint closest to the expanded diameter portion having a distal rim (107). The braiding comprises a stem (108) having a first end connected to the expanded diameter portion and a second end connected to the distal region, where the stem in a relaxed state is partly sunk into the tubular member beneath the distal rim (107), wherein the proximal region comprises a connecting member (113), wherein ends of the at least one thread are fixed to the connecting member, the expanded diameter portion comprises returning loops of the at least one thread whereby opposite ends of the at least one thread forming the expanded diameter portion are fixed to the connecting member.