Implant Delivery Wire Distal Protection Petals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current delivery systems for medical implants, such as stents and flow diverters, face challenges with increased resistive and frictional forces due to retainer sleeves or covers, which hinder the efficient navigation and deployment of self-expanding implants through the vascular system.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system featuring an elongate delivery wire assembly with an implant distal protection feature, comprising a central portion and peripheral petal-like portions that cover the implant when constrained within the catheter lumen, minimizing frictional forces and allowing self-expansion upon deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If retainer sleeves or covers are used to control release and protect implant ends during deployment, then implant protection is improved, but resistive and frictional forces during delivery increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protection feature is divided into multiple petal-like portions that can independently flex and move. Each petal acts as a separate segment that provides protection when needed but can be lifted away to reduce friction during specific phases of delivery and deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The protection feature transitions from a static cover to a dynamic structure with petals that can change their configuration. The petals are designed to flex, lift, and move in response to forces applied during delivery and deployment, automatically adapting their protective function to reduce resistive forces when necessary
2Reliability
If retainer sleeves or covers are used to protect implant ends, then implant protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection feature is integrated directly into the delivery wire assembly, combining the protection function with the existing delivery mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate retainer sleeves or covers, reducing the number of components and simplifying the overall device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery wire assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it delivers the implant, provides protection through its integrated petal feature, and controls deployment. This multi-functional design reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby reducing device complexity
3Reliability
If the protection feature covers more of the implant, then implant protection is improved, but frictional forces during delivery increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protection is not uniformly applied along the entire implant length but is concentrated at specific locations where protection is most needed. The petal portions are strategically positioned to protect critical areas while leaving other areas exposed, reducing overall frictional contact during delivery
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery system for deploying a medical implant includes an elongate delivery wire assembly slidably disposed within a delivery catheter lumen, the delivery wire assembly having an implant loading region configured for seating the implant when the delivery wire assembly is constrained within the delivery catheter lumen and the implant is in a compressed delivery configuration, the delivery wire assembly further including an implant distal protection feature having a central portion coupled to the delivery wire assembly distal of the implant loading region, and a peripheral portion extending proximally from the central portion to at least partially cover a distal end portion of the implant when the delivery wire assembly, implant and implant distal protection feature are constrained within the delivery catheter lumen, wherein the peripheral portion remains extending in the proximal direction when the implant assumes an expanded configuration after being released from the delivery catheter lumen.