Continuous Embolic Coil Cut-to-Length Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current embolic coils require multiple deployments and reloading during vascular occlusion procedures, leading to increased procedure time, radiation exposure, and challenges in achieving precise placement and dense coil packs, especially in tortuous vascular paths and aneurysm spaces behind endografts.
Innovation Solution
A continuous embolic coil system with a delivery device that allows for single loading and 'cut-to-length' deployment, using a cutting mechanism integrated into the delivery device to trim the coil to the desired length within the target vessel or aneurysmal space, reducing the need for multiple coils and improving placement precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple discrete embolic coils are used to fill large aneurysm spaces, then complete vascular occlusion is achieved, but procedure time increases and radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous embolic coil is segmented into discrete deployable portions along its length, allowing the physician to deploy only the necessary segments to fill the aneurysm space. This segmentation enables a single continuous coil to replace multiple discrete coils, reducing procedure time and radiation exposure while maintaining complete occlusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The embolic coil is manufactured as a continuous structure rather than discrete segments, allowing for continuous deployment through a single loading process. This continuity eliminates the need for multiple coil reloads and deployments, directly reducing procedure time and radiation exposure while achieving the same occlusion completeness.
2Reliability
If multiple discrete embolic coils are deployed sequentially, then sufficient coil pack density is achieved, but the number of reloads increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous coil is divided into multiple deployable segments along its length, allowing a single continuous coil to provide the same coil pack density as multiple discrete coils. This eliminates the need for repeated loading and unloading operations, reducing procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous embolic coil serves multiple functions: it provides the coil pack structure for occlusion, acts as the delivery element through the catheter, and eliminates the need for multiple separate coil loading operations. This multi-functionality reduces the number of reloads and simplifies the overall procedure.
3Reliability
If a very large number of metallic coils are used to fill large aneurysm spaces, then blood flow stasis is achieved, but cost increases and radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous embolic coil allows for a single loading and deployment operation that can fill large aneurysm spaces, eliminating the need for multiple discrete coil deployments. This reduces the total number of X-ray images required to guide the procedure, thereby reducing radiation exposure to both physician and patient while achieving the same blood flow stasis.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous coil is segmented into multiple deployable portions that can be distributed throughout the aneurysm space, allowing a single continuous structure to replace many discrete coils. This reduces the total coil count and associated radiation exposure while maintaining the necessary blood flow stasis.
4Reliability
If a very large number of metallic coils are used to fill large aneurysm spaces, then complete occlusion is achieved, but post procedure imaging is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous embolic coil enables complete occlusion with a single deployment operation, reducing the total metal mass compared to using many discrete coils. This reduced metal mass minimizes interference with post-procedure CT and MR imaging while still achieving complete occlusion of the aneurysm space.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous coil is segmented into multiple deployable portions that can be strategically placed to achieve complete occlusion with minimal total metal content. This segmentation allows for optimized distribution of the coil material, reducing imaging interference while maintaining occlusion completeness.
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 continuous embolic coil system simplifies the occlusion process by eliminating the need for multiple coil reloads, reducing procedure time, minimizing radiation exposure, and enabling more precise and efficient vascular occlusion with improved coil pack density and anchoring within the vessel.
Implementation Method 1
a cutting mechanism integrated into the delivery device to trim the coil to the desired length
Implementation Method 2
The coils anchor to the vessel wall or aneurysm through radial compliance pressing onto the vessel wall surface
Implementation Method 3
The continuous embolic coil is a radiopaque polymer coil
Implementation Method 4
shape memory polymer coil
Data Source
AI summary
An occlusion system (5) provides a trimmable continuous embolic coil (10) that is “cut to length” at the end of its deployment into the target occlusion site. A delivery device (15) provides the “cut to length” feature for the continuous embolic coil.