Delivery Catheter With Independent Pods For Stent Graft Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for deploying vascular stent grafts, particularly for abdominal aortic aneurysms, face challenges such as cranial migration of stent grafts during percutaneous insertion, which can obstruct blood flow to renal arteries and are complex to manage, especially when using separate deployment devices for each stent portion.

Innovation Solution

A delivery catheter with a central core and connected pods that allow for the sequential deployment of stent grafts, using independent release links to axially slide or rupture the pods, ensuring the second stent is deployed distally to the first, preventing cranial migration and facilitating a single catheter system for plural stent deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate percutaneous deployment devices are used for each stent graft portion, then the stent graft can be deployed in complex vascular geometries, but the second deployment device may engage the first deployed portion causing cranial migration that can obstruct blood flow to renal arteries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to deploy in complex vascular geometriesVSAvoidcranial migration obstructing renal artery blood flow

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple deployment devices into a single integrated delivery catheter system with a unified control mechanism. The first and second deployment devices are merged into one catheter structure, allowing both stent graft portions to be deployed simultaneously or sequentially from a single access point, eliminating the cranial migration problem caused by separate device insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery catheter is segmented into distinct functional zones: a first deployment device portion for deploying the first stent graft portion, and a second deployment device portion for deploying the second stent graft portion. Each segment can be independently controlled through separate release mechanisms while maintaining structural integration, allowing precise deployment control without cranial migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate deployment devices are used for each stent portion, then deployment flexibility is improved, but the procedural complexity and time are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment flexibilityVSAvoidprocedural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple deployment functions are merged into a single delivery catheter system with unified control. The integrated design reduces the number of separate devices that must be manipulated independently, simplifying the procedural steps while maintaining the ability to deploy multiple stent graft portions with appropriate flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate deployment devices are used for each stent portion, then deployment flexibility is improved, but the procedural time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment flexibilityVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Both stent graft portions are pre-loaded into the integrated delivery catheter system before insertion. The first and second deployment devices are prepared in advance within the single catheter structure, allowing for rapid sequential or simultaneous deployment without the time-consuming process of inserting and positioning separate deployment devices for each stent portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If a single catheter system is used for plural stent deployment, then procedural complexity is reduced, but the ability to deploy in complex vascular geometries may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural complexityVSAvoidability to deploy in complex vascular geometries

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The single delivery catheter system is segmented into functionally independent deployment zones. The first deployment device and second deployment device are distinct segments within the unified catheter, each capable of independent operation to accommodate complex vascular geometries while maintaining overall procedural simplicity through integrated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP1813232B1Deployment catheter for medical implant devices

Publication Date: 2009.08.26 CORDIS CORPORATION

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AI summary

In a delivery catheter, first and second pods (24,26) cover one or more prosthetic implants located around a central core (12), and are connected with one another to move as a unit and to present a continuous outer surface. Two independent release links (24,26), each extending from a proximal region of the delivery catheter to an interface with the first and second pods, respectively, and operative to displace the first and second pod, respectively. Applying tension to the release links releases the associated pod, either by displacing it from over the implant or rupturing the exterior of the pod. A user-operable handle at a proximal end of the delivery catheter can activate either or both independent release links. Also provided according to the present invention is a method for the deployment of a prosthetic implant.