Embolization Coil Fiber Retention via Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing embolization devices with thrombogenic fibers risk the fibers coming loose and causing blood clots at undesired locations due to protrusion, which is not adequately addressed by current designs.

Innovation Solution

The embolization device features thrombogenic fibers wound around its main body, particularly a primary coil, to minimize protrusion and enhance the thrombogenic effect by increasing the coil's diameter and securing the fibers with an inner mandrel and knotting, ensuring a firm hold and reduced risk of detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thrombogenic fibers are arranged to protrude from the embolization device to enhance thrombogenic effect, then the thrombogenic effect is improved, but the risk of fibers coming loose and causing blood clots at undesired locations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrombogenic effectVSAvoidrisk of fibers coming loose causing blood clots

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having fibers protrude outward from the coil windings, the patent inverts the configuration by routing fibers through the interior of the coil and having them terminate inside the coil structure. This inversion eliminates protruding fiber ends that could detach and embolize, while maintaining thrombogenic effect through internal fiber arrangement and controlled protrusion at the distal end only.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary securing mechanism where fibers are threaded through multiple coil windings and secured at intermediate points along the coil length. This intermediary fixation method prevents direct protrusion of fiber ends from the device exterior, reducing the risk of detachment while maintaining the thrombogenic function through controlled fiber exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If thrombogenic fibers are secured firmly to prevent detachment, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber retentionVSAvoidfiber securing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a self-service securing mechanism where the coil structure itself serves to retain the fibers. The fibers are threaded through the coil windings and secured by the coil's own structural features, eliminating the need for separate complex securing components. The coil windings act as both the embolization device and the fiber retention mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the coil structure multi-functional by having it simultaneously serve as the embolization device and as the fiber securing mechanism. The same coil windings that provide the embolization function also provide the retention function by threading and anchoring the fibers within their structure, reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10182822B2Embolization device

Publication Date: 2019.01.22 PFM MEDICAL AG

AI summary

In an embolization device (1) with a main body (3) and with at least one thrombogenic fiber (2), which main body can be converted from an elongate primary shape to a secondary shape, the at least one thrombogenic fiber (2) is arranged in a configuration wound around the main body. In a method for producing an embolization coil of this kind, a primary coil (30) forming a main body (3) of the embolization coil (1) has at least one thrombogenic fiber (2) wound around it, and the primary coil (30) is converted in shape to a secondary coil.