Branched Stent Graft with Angled Sockets for Aortic Arch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current prosthetic devices for treating aortic arch aneurysms and dissections face challenges in maintaining blood flow to branch arteries, particularly due to complex anatomical features of the aortic arch, which complicates the implantation of branch stents and can lead to interruptions in blood supply to critical areas like the brain.

Innovation Solution

An endovascular prosthetic device with sockets and guide wires that facilitate the implantation of secondary prostheses in branch arteries, allowing for efficient deployment and minimization of blood turbulence, while maintaining blood flow to branch arteries by using a primary prosthesis with angled sockets and fenestrations for guide wire placement, enabling secure sealing and expansion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a primary prosthesis is used to treat aortic arch aneurysms, then the aneurysm is sealed and treated, but blood flow to branch arteries may be blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaneurysm sealingVSAvoidblockage of branch vessels

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis is divided into multiple independent modules: a primary prosthesis for sealing the aneurysm and secondary prostheses for maintaining branch artery patency. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between sealing the aneurysm and maintaining blood flow to branches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Secondary prostheses are nested within the primary prosthesis structure, with their proximal ends positioned within the primary prosthesis and distal ends extending into branch arteries. This nesting configuration allows the secondary prostheses to maintain branch artery patency while being supported by the primary prosthesis that seals the aneurysm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If branch stents are implanted in the aortic arch, then blood flow to branch arteries is maintained, but the implantation process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow maintenanceVSAvoidimplantation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The secondary prostheses are pre-positioned within the primary prosthesis during manufacturing, with their proximal ends already secured within the primary prosthesis structure. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex intra-procedural positioning and reduces implantation time while ensuring proper blood flow maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The implantation procedure merges the deployment of the primary prosthesis and secondary prostheses into a single integrated process. Both prostheses are deployed simultaneously through coordinated balloon expansion, reducing the number of procedural steps and simplifying the overall implantation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If secondary prostheses are deployed in branch arteries, then blood flow to branches is maintained, but blood turbulence increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebranch artery patencyVSAvoidblood turbulence

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sockets of the primary prosthesis are specifically designed with local quality features: they are positioned at angles matching the natural orientation of branch arteries and have dimensions optimized for each specific branch. This localized optimization minimizes flow disturbances and reduces blood turbulence while maintaining branch artery patency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple prosthetic modules are used to accommodate vessel variations, then adaptability improves, but device assembly and implantation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel morphology accommodationVSAvoidimplantation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The primary and secondary prostheses are pre-assembled into an integrated modular system during manufacturing, with all connections and positioning pre-established. This preliminary assembly reduces the complexity of intra-procedural assembly and significantly reduces implantation time while maintaining the ability to accommodate various vessel morphologies through module selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2450006B1Branched stent graft system

Publication Date: 2015.01.14 THE CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUND

Figure 1A~2A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2B

AI summary

An endovascular prosthetic device (100) includes a primary prosthesis with a primary lumen, a major socket (105) in the primary prosthesis, and a fenestration (115, 117) in the wall of the major socket (105) to accommodate a guide wire configured to facilitate placement of a secondary prosthesis in a branch artery. The major socket (105) comprises a major opening (113), a major lumen at least a portion of which extends into the primary lumen, and at least one minor socket (130, 132) with a minor opening (116, 119) and a minor lumen at least partially within the major lumen.