Medical Implant Delivery System with Curved Distal Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular medical devices face challenges in reliably re-crossing deployed stents due to mechanical interactions between the delivery wire tip and stent struts, especially in curved vessel configurations, which hinders the effective deployment and expansion of stents.
Innovation Solution
An elongate delivery mechanism with a compressible annular bushing and a pre-shaped distal tip that assumes a curved geometry, allowing for smooth re-crossing of deployed stents and facilitating the deployment of medical implants like stents within blood vessels, while minimizing snagging on stent struts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a delivery wire with rigid bumpers is used to deploy a stent, then the stent can be securely engaged and deployed, but the delivery wire tip may dig into the stent cells and prevent reliable re-crossing, especially in curved vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The distal tip is designed to be dynamically configurable between a straight configuration during stent deployment and a curved configuration during re-crossing operations. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the delivery wire to adapt its geometry based on the operational phase, resolving the contradiction between secure stent engagement and smooth re-crossing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery wire is segmented into different functional zones: a rigid proximal portion for stable manipulation and a flexible distal tip portion for adaptive navigation. This segmentation allows the proximal rigid section to provide structural support while the distal flexible section can curve to follow vessel anatomy and avoid snagging on stent struts during re-crossing
2Ease of operation
If the delivery wire is made more rigid to facilitate balloon catheter delivery, then catheter guidance is improved, but the forward edges of the bumpers may catch on stent struts, creating additional re-crossing challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The distal tip is designed with a curved geometry that allows it to smoothly navigate around stent struts during re-crossing operations. This curvature eliminates sharp edges that would otherwise catch on the stent framework, while the proximal portion maintains sufficient rigidity for stable catheter guidance and manipulation
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
Enables reliable re-crossing and deployment of stents, reducing mechanical interference and allowing for the successful expansion of stents against vessel walls, thereby maintaining vessel patency and supporting blood flow.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible annular bushing disposed within the annular channel, the annular bushing configured for being placed between a compressed profile and an expanded profile
Implementation Method 2
a pre-shaped distal tip that assumes a curved geometry, allowing for smooth re-crossing of deployed stents
Data Source
AI summary
An implant delivery system includes a delivery catheter and a delivery mechanism slidably disposed in a lumen of the delivery catheter. The delivery mechanism includes an annular channel and a compressible annular bushing disposed within the annular channel. The annular bushing is configured for being placed between a compressive profile and an expanded profile. The implant delivery system further includes an implant coaxially disposed between the delivery catheter and the delivery mechanism. The delivery catheter lumen is sized to maintain an engagement element of the implant within the annular channel and to urge the annular bushing into the compressive profile. The implant constrains a distal tip of the delivery mechanism to assume a straight geometry. The distal tip is configured for assuming a curved geometry when the implant is deployed from the delivery catheter.