Configurable Catheter Segment for Curved Vessel Stent Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stent deployment systems face challenges in curved vessels, leading to vessel straightening and complications like thrombosis, and endovascular stent grafts struggle to engage tortuous anatomy, resulting in incomplete sealing and increased risk of aneurysm rupture due to endoleaks.
Innovation Solution
A vascular treatment system featuring a steerable catheter with multiple lumens and control wires that allows the configurable segment to bend and curve, enabling the expandable stent or anchoring member to be deployed in a curved configuration without straightening the vessel, and an expandable ring fastener to secure the graft to the vessel wall, preventing endoleaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional balloon catheter is used to deploy a stent in a curved vessel, then the stent can be delivered to the target location, but the balloon inflation causes straightening of the vessel leading to hemodynamic changes and thrombosis
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple sections with different degrees of curvature. The distal section has a higher degree of curvature than the proximal section, allowing the catheter to navigate tortuous anatomy while the expandable member maintains the vessel's natural curve during deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter is designed with a pre-formed curved configuration that matches the natural anatomy of tortuous vessels. This curvature is maintained throughout the deployment process, allowing the expandable member to deploy without straightening the vessel and causing hemodynamic changes
2Reliability
If a conventional catheter is used to position an endovascular stent graft in tortuous anatomy, then the graft can be delivered, but incomplete engagement with the vessel wall occurs creating endoleaks
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system includes multiple sections with varying curvatures that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the operator to navigate the catheter through tortuous anatomy and position the graft accurately, ensuring complete engagement with the vessel wall to prevent endoleaks
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter's configurable segment can be dynamically adjusted to match the specific geometry of the treatment site. This dynamic adaptability enables precise positioning of the stent graft in complex anatomical configurations, ensuring proper engagement and sealing
3Reliability
If a steerable catheter with multiple control wires is used to maintain curved configuration, then the vessel curvature is preserved during stent deployment, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is divided into multiple lumens with control wires positioned within specific lumens. This segmentation allows independent control of different sections of the catheter, enabling maintenance of curved configuration during deployment while organizing the complexity into manageable segments
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple control wires are nested within separate lumens of the catheter shaft. This nested structure allows multiple control functions to be integrated within a single catheter body, maintaining the curved configuration through coordinated control of multiple wires without excessive external complexity
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 system effectively deploys stents and anchors in curved vessels without causing hemodynamic changes, ensuring complete engagement and sealing, thereby reducing the risk of aneurysm rupture and graft migration.
Implementation Method 1
operation of the operable member in one direction advances the control wire in one control lumen placing it in compression
Implementation Method 2
simultaneously retracting the control wire in an opposing control lumen placing it in tension
Implementation Method 3
the expandable member is then expanded causing the expandable implant to expand at the target location
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods and systems for performing intravascular procedures. More particularly the present invention relates to a vascular treatment system that includes an elongate catheter having a configurable segment with a coaxial expandable member, an expandable ring implant mounted on the expandable member and a handle assembly connected to the catheter that actuates the configurable segment to change shape and maintain that shape during deployment of the expandable ring implant to secure a previously placed endovascular graft.