Embolectomy Cage Dual Strut Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing embolectomy cages face challenges in effectively engaging and removing emboli from blood vessels without causing vascular damage, as they either have small openings that fail to engage emboli or large openings that distribute radial force over fewer struts, leading to potential vascular damage.
Innovation Solution
The embolectomy cage features a dual strut construction with paired, closely spaced, substantially parallel elongate members forming open cells, allowing for varying cross-sectional geometries and flexible configurations that distribute radial force over a greater area while maximizing engagement with emboli, reducing the risk of vascular damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If larger openings are used in embolectomy cages to improve embolus engagement, then embolus engagement is improved, but the number of struts is reduced which increases local pressure on the vessel wall and could cause vascular damage
Solution Approach 1:
The embolectomy cage employs a dual strut construction where each opening is formed by two separate struts instead of a single strut. This segmentation allows the radial force to be distributed across multiple struts (typically 6-12 struts per opening) while maintaining large opening areas for effective embolus engagement, thereby reducing the local pressure on individual struts and the vessel wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements different strut configurations in different regions of the device. The dual strut construction is applied selectively to create openings with optimized characteristics for embolus engagement while maintaining structural integrity. The struts have varying properties (different materials, diameters, or geometries) to distribute forces appropriately across different locations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If more struts are used to distribute radial force over greater area and reduce vascular damage, then vascular damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual strut construction merges the functions of multiple struts into a coordinated system where paired struts work together to form openings. This combining approach allows force distribution across multiple struts while maintaining a relatively simple overall device architecture and manufacturing process, avoiding the need for complex multi-component assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The struts in the dual strut construction serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support, distribute radial force, form openings for embolus engagement, and maintain device flexibility. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Stress or pressure
If wider struts are used to distribute force over greater area, then force distribution is improved, but the bending stiffness increases which may reduce flexibility needed for embolus engagement
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting each opening into two separate struts, the patent creates a configuration where the force distribution benefits of wider struts are achieved without the penalty of excessive bending stiffness. The segmented structure allows each strut to be optimized for flexibility while collectively providing the necessary force distribution across the opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual strut construction creates local variations in stiffness and flexibility within the device. The paired struts can have different properties (one more flexible than the other) to optimize both force distribution and flexibility in different regions, allowing the device to maintain the necessary flexibility for embolus engagement while distributing force effectively.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 1D~1F
Figure 2A~3
AI summary
An embolectomy cage having an elongate axis and a circumference comprises a plurality of paired, closely spaced, substantially parallel, elongate members collectively defining a plurality of open cells, wherein individual elongate members of the pairs are connected at nodes located between respective pairs of axially adjacent cells and circumferentially adjacent cells, and wherein at least one elongate member spans each node without forming a connection to another elongate member.