Closed End Cell Stent Geometry for Uniform Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraluminal support devices often experience non-uniform deployment when transitioning from a compressed state to an expanded state, leading to misalignment and distortion, particularly due to the lack of consistent radial stiffness and inadequate structural support at end cells.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a tubular body with a plurality of inner rings and end cells featuring a repeating pattern of struts and bends, with increased connectors at end cells to enhance axial stiffness and ensure consistent expansion, and modified peak and valley structures to distribute radial force evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If open cell geometry is used to ensure flexibility and fatigue life, then the device can conform to vessel shape and have good fatigue properties, but non-uniform deployment and misalignment occur during delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different cell geometries to different locations along the stent length. End cells have closed geometry with increased radial stiffness to prevent non-uniform deployment, while inner cells maintain open geometry for flexibility and fatigue resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing enhanced structural support where needed without sacrificing overall device flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If end rings are designed with standard open cell geometry, then the device maintains flexibility, but end rings are more susceptible to non-uniform deployment and distortion
Solution Approach 1:
End rings are specifically designed with closed cell geometry and increased radial stiffness compared to inner rings. This local structural enhancement provides the end rings with greater stability and resistance to non-uniform deployment while the inner rings maintain open geometry for flexibility. The differentiated design resolves the contradiction between flexibility and end ring stability.
3Ease of operation
If balloon-expandable device is compressed for delivery, then the device can be packaged and delivered percutaneously, but non-uniformity appears as a result of the crimping process
Solution Approach 1:
The closed cell geometry at end cells provides increased radial stiffness that helps maintain geometric uniformity during the crimping and delivery process. The enhanced structural support at end cells prevents them from deforming non-uniformly under compression, while the overall device remains compressible for delivery. This resolves the contradiction between deliverability and geometric uniformity.
4Manufacturing precision
If closed end cell geometry is implemented to reduce non-uniform deployment, then deployment uniformity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements closed cell geometry only at end cells rather than throughout the entire stent. This localized approach provides the deployment uniformity benefits of closed cell geometry while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity. The inner cells maintain the simpler open geometry, balancing structural performance with manufacturing simplicity.
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
This configuration ensures consistent and uniform deployment, reducing the likelihood of misalignment and distortion, while maintaining optimal packing efficiency for delivery and providing stable radial force across the device length.
Implementation Method 1
The tubular body is radially expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an intraluminal support device including a closed cell design on at least one end of the device. In such a device, the closed cell structure is formed by connecting all peaks of an ultimate ring to all peaks of a penultimate ring, and all valleys of the ultimate ring to all valleys of the ultimate ring. The support device expands evenly due to this structure.