Esophageal Valve Inversion for Retrograde Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing esophageal stents with valves often cause discomfort due to complete sealing during belching or vomiting, risk of food blockage, and material degradation in the gastric environment, leading to reduced efficacy over time.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric esophageal valve with a normally closed configuration that opens in response to antegrade forces and a retrograde force significantly greater than antegrade forces, featuring a support structure and leaflets that invert to allow retrograde flow, made from materials stable in gastric fluid for extended periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible sleeve is added to hang below the stent into the stomach to allow retrograde flow, then retrograde flow capability is improved, but the sleeve may invert and remain inverted causing blockage of the esophagus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion principle by designing the valve to invert temporarily during vomiting to allow retrograde flow, then automatically everte back to its original configuration. The valve body is designed to invert in response to retrograde force and then return to its original configuration when the force is released, preventing permanent inversion and blockage.
2Reliability
If the valve seals completely to prevent acid reflux, then reflux prevention is improved, but belching and vomiting are prevented causing patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics principle by making the valve dynamically responsive to pressure changes. The valve maintains a closed configuration under normal conditions to prevent reflux, but automatically opens in response to retrograde force (vomiting or belching) and then recloses when the force is released, providing both reliable reflux prevention and necessary venting capability.
3Reliability
If the valve is placed at the distal end of the stent where peristalsis is not effective, then reflux prevention is improved, but food may become stuck in this portion causing blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation principle by dividing the valve structure into multiple functional components including a valve body, valve leaflets, and a co-aptation region. This segmentation allows the valve to effectively prevent reflux while the specific geometric design of the co-aptation region prevents food from becoming lodged, thus avoiding blockage.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional materials are used for the valve, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the materials degrade in the gastric environment reducing device efficacy over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials principle by using a valve body made from a polymeric material that is specifically designed to be stable in gastric fluid. This specialized polymeric material provides both the necessary mechanical properties for valve function and the chemical stability required to resist degradation in the harsh gastric environment, ensuring long-term device efficacy.
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 valve ensures comfortable antegrade and retrograde flow while maintaining structural integrity and functionality over time, reducing patient discomfort and extending device lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the valve leaflets and at least portion of the main body region inverts to allow flow in the retrograde direction. Preferably, on reduction in retrograde forces the main valve region and the valve leaflets evert to the normally closed configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A valve such as an esophageal valve (1) has a normally closed configuration in which the valve (1) is closed and an open configuration in which the valve (1) is opened for flow through the valve (1). A support (102) for the valve (1) is adapted for mounting to a pre-deployed luminal prosthesis (140) intermediate a proximal end and a distal end of the predeployed luminal prosthesis (140).