Elastic Filament Loop for Aneurysm Flow Restriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating aneurysms, such as open craniotomy and minimally-invasive coil deployment, face challenges like coil herniation, migration, and risk of rupture, necessitating a device that can restrict blood flow to aneurysms while maintaining normal blood vessel flow.

Innovation Solution

A minimally-invasive, endoluminal device featuring a single closed loop of elastic filament that configures from a longitudinally-expanded, radially-contracted state for movement along the blood vessel to a longitudinally-contracted, radially-expanded state to cover the aneurysm mouth, obstructing blood flow while allowing normal flow through the vessel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If detachable coils are deployed within the aneurysm dome to reduce blood velocity and cause thrombosis, then the aneurysm rupture risk is reduced, but the risk of coil herniation into the blood vessel lumen and coil migration downstream increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaneurysm rupture preventionVSAvoidcoil herniation and migration risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a flow-restricting face as an intermediary structure positioned at the aneurysm mouth. This face acts as a mediator that redirects blood flow away from the aneurysm dome while maintaining coil stability, thereby preventing both aneurysm rupture and coil migration without requiring coils to be directly packed in the dome

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device segments the treatment function into two distinct components: the flow-restricting face that handles flow redirection and the supporting structure that provides stability. This segmentation allows the flow-restricting face to prevent coil herniation while maintaining normal blood flow through the parent vessel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a microcatheter is used to deploy detachable coils within the aneurysm dome, then minimally-invasive treatment is achieved, but the risk of aneurysm rupture during the procedure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveminimally-invasive treatmentVSAvoidaneurysm rupture risk during procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flow-restricting face is deployed first to establish flow redirection and stabilize the aneurysm environment before coil deployment. This preliminary action creates a safer condition for subsequent coil placement, reducing the risk of rupture during the minimally-invasive procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the flow-restricting face obstructs blood flow to the aneurysm mouth to cause thrombosis, then the aneurysm is isolated from blood flow, but normal blood flow through the blood vessel must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaneurysm isolation from blood flowVSAvoidnormal blood flow through vessel

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flow-restricting face is designed with specific geometric features and positioning that create local flow restriction at the aneurysm mouth while leaving the parent vessel lumen open. This local quality approach ensures selective flow obstruction only where needed, maintaining normal flow productivity in the main vessel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Effectively causes thrombosis of the aneurysm by restricting blood flow while ensuring normal blood flow through the vessel, reducing the risk of coil migration and rupture, and facilitating the retention of embolic material.

Implementation Method 1

a single closed loop of elastic filament configurable between: (i) a first longitudinally-expanded, radially and laterally-contracted configuration for movement along a blood vessel; and (ii) a second longitudinally-contracted, radially and laterally-expanded configuration for lodging within a blood vessel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2763601B1Apparatus for restricting flow through an opening in a body lumen while maintaining normal flow

Publication Date: 2020.03.25 CORNELL UNIVERSITY

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Figure 110~111

AI summary

A device comprising a single closed loop of elastic filament configurable between (i) a first configuration for movement along a blood vessel; and (ii) a second configuration for lodging within a blood vessel, the second configuration providing a single flow-restricting face sized and configured to cover the mouth of the aneurysm and obstruct blood flow to the aneurysm while permitting substantially normal blood flow through the blood vessel, with the degree of obstruction at the mouth of the aneurysm being such that the aneurysm thromboses when the face is positioned over the aneurysm, the flow-restricting face comprising a plurality of lengths of the closed loop of filament disposed in close proximity to one another in a switchback configuration, and at least one leg for holding the flow-restricting face adjacent the mouth of the aneurysm, the leg configured so as to maintain substantially normal blood flow through the blood vessel.