Dual Motion Stent Deployment via Bidirectional Gears
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accurate placement of expandable structures, such as stents, in vessel lumens is challenging due to the change in length caused by expansion, which affects the positioning of the ends during deployment.
Innovation Solution
A catheter-based deployment system with dual shuttles and a drive shaft mechanism that uses bidirectional gear sets to counteract the geometric changes in the expandable structure, allowing for precise placement by adjusting the rate of motion of the outer sheath and inner lumen shuttles to account for the expansion and contraction of the stent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a traditional single-shuttle deployment system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision of stent placement deteriorates due to length change during expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment system is segmented into two independent shuttles: an inner lumen shuttle that pushes the stent forward and an outer sheath shuttle that withdraws the outer sheath. This segmentation allows independent control of each component's motion, enabling precise compensation for stent length changes during expansion while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
2Productivity
If the outer sheath is withdrawn quickly to enable stent expansion, then the productivity of the procedure is improved, but the manufacturing precision of placement deteriorates due to uncontrolled geometric changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic, coordinated motion of the inner and outer shuttles during deployment. The inner lumen shuttle advances while the outer sheath shuttle withdraws, with their speeds dynamically adjusted to compensate for stent expansion geometry. This dynamic control enables rapid deployment while maintaining placement precision through real-time motion coordination.
3Ease of operation
If the stent is deployed from a compressed state, then the ease of operation for intravascular delivery is improved, but the manufacturing precision of placement deteriorates due to length shortening during expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning of the compressed stent within the catheter to a predetermined location before deployment. The dual-shuttle mechanism is pre-configured with appropriate motion ratios that will compensate for the expected length change during expansion. This preliminary setup ensures that when deployment occurs, the stent expands to the correct final position without requiring active intervention during the expansion process.
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
This system enables more accurate placement of stents by compensating for the change in length during expansion, ensuring the stent is deployed closer to the intended location without requiring active intervention from the physician, improving the precision and effectiveness of endovascular procedures.
Implementation Method 1
rotating a main drive shaft coupled via a set of drive gears to a set of catheter gears, enabling by rotation of the main drive shaft translated movement back and forth of the set of catheter gears wherein the set of catheter gears includes a pair of catheter gears each threaded in opposite directions for bidirectional movement
Implementation Method 2
a pair of catheter gears each threaded in opposite directions for bidirectional movement to advance the inner lumen shuttle and the outer sheath shuttle in opposite directions
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for deployment of a compressed expandable structure in a vessel lumen by inserting a catheter configured at a proximal end with dual shuttles; rotating a main drive shaft coupled via a set of drive gears to a set of catheter gears, enabling by rotation of the main drive shaft translated movement back and forth of the set of catheter gears wherein the set of catheter gears includes a pair of catheter gears each threaded in opposite directions for bidirectional movement to advance the inner lumen shuttle and the outer sheath shuttle in opposite directions; and deploying, by the bidirectional movement of the catheter gears, by the simultaneous withdrawal and insertion of the shuttle's outer sheath and inner lumen, the compressed expandable structure at a deployment location nearer to the catheter's distal end for more accurate placement to the treatment area's location.