Connector System for Simultaneous Stent Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying stents at bifurcations in blood vessels is challenging due to the need for simultaneous deployment to avoid misalignment and ensure proper contact, which is difficult with current methods that require a dual femoral approach and can lead to incomplete vessel support or thrombi formation.
Innovation Solution
A connector system for medical device delivery systems that allows simultaneous deployment of stents by connecting two discreet delivery systems through a first and second connector, enabling synchronized movement of retention sheaths to release stents simultaneously, ensuring proper alignment and contact at bifurcations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate delivery systems are inserted into the femoral arteries for kissing stent deployment, then the stents can be deployed in bifurcated vessels, but simultaneous deployment is difficult to achieve and misalignment may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent connects two separate delivery systems through a connector assembly, merging their operation into a unified system. The first and second connectors join the delivery systems at proximal and distal portions, allowing a single operator to control both stent deployments simultaneously through coordinated movement of the retention sheaths.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the two delivery systems. It includes first and second connectors that join the delivery systems at different portions, enabling synchronized movement of the retention sheaths and ensuring simultaneous stent deployment without requiring independent manual control of each system.
2Manufacturing precision
If stents are deployed simultaneously using connected delivery systems, then alignment and vessel support are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a first connector joining proximal portions of the delivery systems, a second connector joining distal portions, and retention sheaths that move coordinately. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while contributing to the overall precision of simultaneous stent deployment.
3Device complexity
If separate delivery systems are used without connection, then device complexity is lower, but misalignment and thrombi formation risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the two delivery systems through the connector assembly, the patent ensures that stents are deployed simultaneously and properly aligned. This eliminates the harmful effect of misalignment and prevents thrombi formation that could result from improper stent positioning, while the added complexity is justified by the significant reduction in clinical risk.
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device delivery system includes a retention sheath having a proximal portion and a bi-furcated distal portion having first and second sheath branch portions. The proximal ends of the sheath branch portions are joined together at a sheath branch junction. The system also includes an inner catheter disposed within the retention sheath. The inner catheter includes a proximal portion and a bi-furcated distal portion with first and second catheter branch portions. The proximal ends are joined together at a catheter branch junction. When the sheath is in an initial position, the catheter branch junction is displaced proximally from the sheath branch junction by a distance that is greater than or equal to the larger of a length of a first medical device and the length of a second medical device.