Embolic Filter with Asymmetric Legs for Vena Cava Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current embolic filters lack sufficient stability and functionality to prevent migration within the inferior vena cava, which can lead to ineffective prevention of pulmonary embolisms.

Innovation Solution

The embolic filter design includes a head with bent and straight legs that engage the inner vein wall, featuring a shape memory material that expands upon reaching body temperature, with bent legs preventing cranial migration and straight legs with enlarged vein engagement faces preventing caudal migration, ensuring the filter remains anchored.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional embolic filters are implanted in the inferior vena cava, then they can trap embolus and prevent pulmonary embolism, but they lack sufficient stability and may migrate within the vein

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of filter positioningVSAvoidmigration resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is divided into multiple legs (bent legs and straight legs) that can independently engage with the vein wall, providing distributed anchoring points that prevent migration while maintaining overall filter stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter employs asymmetric leg configurations with different orientations (bent legs for cranial direction, straight legs for caudal direction) to address migration risks in different directions, optimizing anchoring effectiveness for each specific migration vector

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If the filter legs are designed to engage the inner vein wall, then migration is prevented, but the filter structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanchoring stabilityVSAvoidfilter structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the filter structure are designed with specialized functions: bent legs with engagement faces for cranial direction, straight legs for caudal direction, each optimized for its specific anchoring orientation to maximize stability with minimal structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a single uniform leg design that attempts to prevent migration in all directions simultaneously, the invention uses differently oriented legs that specifically address cranial and caudal migration separately, simplifying the overall engagement mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

The filter effectively prevents emboli from traveling to the lungs by maintaining stable positioning within the inferior vena cava, reducing the risk of pulmonary embolism through enhanced engagement with the vein walls.

Implementation Method 1

featuring a shape memory material that expands upon reaching body temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory material expansion: Shape Memory Alloy

Data Source

PatentUS11617640B2Migration resistant embolic filter

Publication Date: 2023.04.04 CR BARD INC

AI summary

An embolic filter is disclosed and can include a head. A plurality of bent legs can extend from the head. Each bent leg can be configured to engage an inner wall of a vein and prevent the embolic filter from migrating in a cranial direction. A plurality of straight legs can also extend from the head. Each straight leg can be configured to prevent the embolic filter from migrating in a caudal direction.