Actively Controllable Stent Graft with Expandable Collars

Solution Overview

Problem

Current endovascular stent grafts face challenges in achieving a secure seal and precise positioning within irregularly shaped anatomic spaces, such as aortic aneurysms, due to limitations in radial force distribution and inability to accommodate non-circular geometries, leading to migration and leakage issues.

Innovation Solution

The development of actively controllable stent grafts with adjustable elements, including expandable sealable collars and retractable retention tines, allowing for remote actuation to change configuration and achieve a secure seal within the target vessel, enabling repositioning and resealing post-deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing endografts use fixed radial force from varying length stent material, then the device can be manufactured with simple structure, but the device cannot adequately seal against irregularly shaped vessel walls leading to migration and leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal securityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stent graft incorporates actively controllable elements including expandable collars and retractable retention tines that can change configuration after deployment. The expandable collars can be remotely actuated to expand and seal against irregular vessel walls, while retention tines can be deployed or retracted to prevent migration. This dynamic adaptability allows the device to conform to irregular anatomies while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device utilizes variable radial force through controllable expansion mechanisms. The expandable collars can be actuated to change their diameter and apply localized radial force against the vessel wall. The retention tines can be deployed at different angles and positions to provide variable anchoring force. These parameter changes enable adaptation to irregular vessel geometries without requiring complex pre-sizing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If endografts are designed with fixed expanded diameter, then the manufacturing and sizing process is simplified, but the device cannot be repositioned or adjusted after deployment causing mis-sizing issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepositioning capabilityVSAvoidadjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stent graft incorporates actively controllable elements including expandable collars and retractable retention tines that can change configuration after deployment. The expandable collars can be remotely actuated to expand and seal against irregular vessel walls, while retention tines can be deployed or retracted to prevent migration. This dynamic adaptability allows the device to conform to irregular anatomies while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device utilizes variable radial force through controllable expansion mechanisms. The expandable collars can be actuated to change their diameter and apply localized radial force against the vessel wall. The retention tines can be deployed at different angles and positions to provide variable anchoring force. These parameter changes enable adaptation to irregular vessel geometries without requiring complex pre-sizing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If barbs or hooks are incorporated to retain endograft, then migration is reduced, but the device complexity increases and may cause harm to vascular supplies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretention stabilityVSAvoidvascular supply compromise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stent graft incorporates actively controllable elements including expandable collars and retractable retention tines that can change configuration after deployment. The expandable collars can be remotely actuated to expand and seal against irregular vessel walls, while retention tines can be deployed or retracted to prevent migration. This dynamic adaptability allows the device to conform to irregular anatomies while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The retention tines are designed to engage specifically with the adventitia layer of the vessel wall, providing anchoring force without penetrating or compromising the vascular lumen or surrounding structures. The tines can be selectively deployed at specific locations to provide retention while avoiding critical vascular supplies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10980650B2Actively controllable stent, stent graft, heart valve and method of controlling same

Publication Date: 2021.04.20 EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CARDIAQ LLC

AI summary

A delivery apparatus can include a handle portion and at least one rotatable drive shaft. The handle portion has an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism includes a motor and one or more actuators. The rotatable drive shaft has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end portion is coupled to the motor, and the distal end portion is configured to be releasably coupled to a prosthetic heart valve. The actuation mechanism is configured to control and monitor expansion of the prosthetic heart valve. The handle is configured for actuating the actuation mechanism, tracking a response of native tissue when the prosthetic heart valve is in contact with the native tissue, and stopping expansion of the prosthetic heart valve once a rate of change of expansion of the prosthetic heart valve declines below a threshold.