D-Shaped Chimney Graft Sealing for Aneurysm Branch Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endovascular graft systems for treating aneurysms involving major branch vessels face challenges with blood leakage and procedural complexity due to the round cross-section of peripheral stent-grafts, leading to potential occlusion and failure in sealing the aneurysm.
Innovation Solution
The development of an endovascular system comprising a main tubular graft with a circumferential sealing member and an anchoring member, combined with a vent device featuring an open-cage, lattice structure to maintain blood flow through the branch artery while preventing leakage, and a chimney graft with a gutter-sealing device to address the sealing issues between the chimney and main grafts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a round cross-section peripheral stent-graft is used in chimney graft configuration, then the graft can be deployed through the branch vessel, but blood leakage occurs between the chimney graft and main graft due to inability to conform to the aortic wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a D-shaped graft body with a flexible configuration that can conform to the aortic wall surface. The graft includes a flexible membrane or thin film structure that adapts to the curved aortic geometry, eliminating gaps and preventing blood leakage between the chimney graft and main graft while maintaining deployability through the branch vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cross-sectional geometry from round to D-shaped, and introduces configurability that allows the graft to change its shape parameters to conform to the aortic wall. This geometric transformation enables the graft to maintain contact with the aortic surface, sealing the space between the chimney graft and main graft effectively.
2Ease of operation
If fenestrations are created in the main graft to accommodate branch vessels, then blood flow to branch vessels is maintained, but the procedure becomes complex and requires custom-made grafts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the graft system into separate modular components: a main graft and separate chimney grafts that can be independently deployed. This segmentation eliminates the need for pre-fenestrated custom grafts, as the chimney grafts are positioned through branch vessels and secured against the aortic wall, creating a simplified, off-the-shelf solution that maintains blood flow to branch vessels.
Solution Approach 2:
The chimney grafts are deployed preliminary through the branch vessels before final positioning and sealing. This preliminary action through the branch vessel allows the graft to be positioned and secured against the aortic wall, creating a pathway for blood flow without requiring complex pre-fenestrated graft construction.
3Reliability
If the main graft is positioned to seal the aneurysm, then aneurysm exclusion is achieved, but branch vessels may be inadvertently covered leading to occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces chimney grafts as intermediary structures that pass through the branch vessels and are secured against the aortic wall. These intermediary grafts act as mediators that preserve branch vessel patency while allowing the main graft to seal the aneurysm, preventing inadvertent branch vessel coverage and occlusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The chimney grafts are deployed preliminary through the branch vessels before the main graft is fully positioned. This preliminary deployment ensures that the branch vessel pathway is established and protected, allowing the main graft to be sealed against the aneurysm without covering the branch vessels.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for treating diseased bodily lumens involving branched lumen deployment sites include a main graft or stent-graft deployable in a main artery and a vent device or stent-graft deployable in a branch artery to maintain blood flow through the main artery and from the main artery to the branch artery. Systems and methods for treating diseased bodily lumens involving branched lumen deployment sites may also include a main graft or stent-graft deployable in the main artery, a chimney graft or stent-graft deployable in both branch artery and the main artery to the branch artery and a gutter-sealing device associated with the chimney graft to prevent flow of blood among the chimney graft, the main graft and a wall of the main artery.