Curved Expandable Medical Device for Stent Alignment and Flow Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices fail to effectively prevent thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and intimal hyperplasia in blood vessels due to inadequate flow patterns, and struggle with stent alignment and deployment in curved geometries.
Innovation Solution
A medical device featuring an expandable element that changes configuration from a collapsed, straight shape to an expanded, three-dimensionally curved shape, inducing a swirling blood flow and incorporating alignment markers for precise stent alignment, which can be used to exert force on the blood vessel wall to recreate or reinforce a curved stent shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an expandable element is used to exert force on the blood vessel wall to create a curved stent shape, then stent alignment and deployment in curved geometries is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for alignment markers and three-dimensional configuration control
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable element is designed with a three-dimensionally curved configuration in its expanded state, featuring a longitudinal axis that curves in three-dimensional space. This curved geometry enables the device to conform to and deploy stents in curved blood vessel segments, directly addressing the adaptability requirement while using the curvature itself as the functional feature rather than adding complex mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
Alignment markers are incorporated on the expandable element to facilitate precise positioning and orientation during deployment. These markers enable visualization and alignment control without adding mechanical complexity, allowing operators to accurately position the curved expandable element in the desired three-dimensional configuration within the blood vessel
2Ease of operation
If a straight expandable element is used in collapsed configuration, then ease of delivery is improved, but the ability to induce swirling blood flow is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable element transitions dynamically between a straight collapsed configuration for easy delivery through catheters and a curved expanded configuration for therapeutic function. This dynamic shape change allows the device to achieve both ease of delivery and swirling flow induction, with the curvature being activated only when needed at the target site
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable element is designed with inherent three-dimensional curvature in its expanded state, creating the swirling blood flow pattern. The curvature is maintained in the expanded configuration to induce the therapeutic swirling flow, while the collapsed state remains substantially straight for delivery
3Ease of manufacture
If the expandable element is made inflatable using a balloon, then ease of manufacture is improved, but precision of force application is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable balloon is designed with varying cross-sectional geometry along its length, including end portions with different shapes than the central portion. This local variation in geometry allows different regions of the balloon to apply force in specific directions, enabling precise control of the three-dimensional curved configuration and force application to the stent and blood vessel wall
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 device minimizes thrombosis and platelet adhesion, prevents stent coverage by intima ingrowth, and effectively inhibits vascular diseases by promoting a swirling blood flow and ensuring correct stent alignment, thereby reducing the risk of neointimal hyperplasia and in-stent restenosis.
Implementation Method 1
the expandable element is configured to exert force on the internal wall of a blood vessel causing the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel to curve in three-dimensional space
Implementation Method 2
Blood flowing through the three-dimensional curved part of the blood vessel undergoes a swirling action
Implementation Method 3
Wall shear stress is generated on the internal wall of a blood vessel by flow adjacent to the wall. Higher levels of wall shear stress have been associated with a reduction in levels of in-stent restenosis
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device includes an expandable element for location in a blood vessel. The expandable element is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, at least a part of a longitudinal axis of the expandable element is curved in three-dimensional space. The medical device can be stent deployment device which includes an elongate catheter shaft and an inflatable balloon.