Endoluminal Prostheses Surface Enhancement Member Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoluminal prostheses face challenges in achieving strong bonding between stent and membrane components, which can lead to reduced structural integrity and increased risk of delamination or tearing, particularly under shear stresses.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a surface enhancement member, such as a filament wrapped around the stent, which is secured to the stent prior to overlapping with the membrane, enhancing the bonding strength between the membrane and the surface enhancement member compared to bare stent surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional suturing methods are used to attach membrane to stent, then bonding strength is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding strength between membrane and stentVSAvoidcomplexity of attachment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A coupling member in the form of a ribbon is introduced as an intermediary element between the stent and the graft membrane. This ribbon coupling member secures the stent and graft together without requiring complex suturing, thereby maintaining bonding strength while reducing device complexity and manufacturing difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical suturing system with a coupling member system. The coupling member uses a combination of friction, adhesion, and mechanical interlocking to achieve bonding, eliminating the need for needles, threads, and complex knot-tying procedures associated with conventional suturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Strength

If fully enveloped stent construction is used, then structural support is improved, but flexibility and kink resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural support of stent-graftVSAvoidflexibility and kink resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling member is designed to cover only specific portions of the stent surface rather than fully enveloping it. This localized coupling approach provides structural support where needed while leaving other areas of the stent exposed, thereby maintaining flexibility and kink resistance in the uncovered regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If conventional suturing is used for membrane-stent attachment, then bonding strength is improved, but manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebond strength between membrane and stentVSAvoidprecision of membrane-stent attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling member is pre-formed with attachment features designed to interface with both the stent and the graft membrane. This preliminary preparation of the coupling member allows for more precise and easier assembly during manufacturing, as the attachment geometry is predetermined and does not require complex real-time adjustments during suturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2499997B1Endoluminal prostheses
Publication Date: 2015.11.25 COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP2499997B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2499997B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2499997B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

An endoluminal prosthesis (20) comprises a first membrane (25) having a lumen (29) for allowing fluid flow, and a stent (38-68) having contracted and expanded states. At least one surface enhancement member (27, 28), separate from the stent, is secured to the stent prior to a coaxial overlapping state of the stent and the first membrane. The at least one surface enhancement member has stronger bonding properties with the first membrane, relative to bonding properties of bare surfaces of the stent with the first membrane, when the stent and the first membrane are in the coaxially overlapping state.