Catheter-Stent Coupling for Precise Placement and Remote Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drainage stent delivery systems lack efficient mechanisms for selectively coupling and decoupling catheters and stents within the body, particularly in scenarios where urinary or other organ blockages require percutaneous insertion and prolonged retention.
Innovation Solution
A drainage stent delivery system with a coupling member that allows for rotational fixation and selective coupling/decoupling of a catheter body and stent member, featuring telescoping connectors and a release wire mechanism to facilitate 1:1 axial rotation and remote decoupling without surgical intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drainage stent is percutaneously inserted with a catheter for prolonged retention, then the stent can be securely retained in the target organ, but the removal process requires surgical intervention which increases patient morbidity and recovery time
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member is divided into distinct segments including a proximal connector, distal connector, and telescoping connector that can move independently. This segmentation allows the system to maintain secure coupling during delivery while enabling simple decoupling for removal by pulling the release wire, which extracts the distal connector from the proximal connector without requiring surgical intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The release wire acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers force from the operator to the telescoping connector. By pulling the release wire, the operator can remotely actuate the decoupling of the catheter and stent without direct manipulation or surgical intervention, simplifying the removal procedure while maintaining secure retention during the delivery phase.
2Measurement precision
If the catheter and stent are firmly coupled for stable delivery, then placement precision is improved, but the decoupling mechanism becomes more complex requiring additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The telescoping connector is nested within the proximal and distal connectors, allowing it to slide between them. This nested configuration provides a compact, integrated coupling mechanism that ensures firm coupling for precise delivery while enabling simple decoupling through the release wire mechanism, avoiding the need for complex additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member transitions from a static, firmly coupled state during delivery to a dynamically decoupled state during removal. The telescoping connector can move relative to the proximal and distal connectors, allowing the system to maintain stability during insertion while enabling simple separation when the release wire is pulled, thus achieving precision without permanent complexity.
3Loss of time
If the coupling mechanism allows remote decoupling without surgery, then patient recovery time is reduced, but the coupling reliability during delivery may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member is pre-configured with the release wire threaded through the telescoping connector and secured with a knot or loop. This preliminary setup ensures that the decoupling mechanism is ready for immediate activation after stent deployment, allowing rapid removal without surgery and reducing recovery time while maintaining coupling stability during the delivery phase through the secure nested configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism exhibits different mechanical properties at different locations: the proximal and distal connectors provide firm, stable coupling for reliable delivery, while the telescoping connector provides a controlled interface that can be easily separated. This local differentiation of coupling characteristics allows secure retention during delivery while enabling simple remote decoupling for reduced recovery time.
Data Source
AI summary
A drainage stent delivery system is disclosed. The drainage stent delivery system includes a catheter body, a stent member, and a coupling member. In some embodiments the coupling member can include keyed connectors having a non-round shape to facilitate a 1:1 rotation ration of the catheter body and the stent member. In another embodiment, the coupling member can include a telescoping connector having an inner tube and a release wire disposed through the inner tube. A distal portion of the release wire has an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the inner tube such that the telescoping connector can be displace by the release wire. In another embodiment, the stent member includes a proximal retention member having arms that are outwardly extendable.