Expandable Implant Apposition Line for Tortuous Vasculature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Endoluminal delivery and deployment of expandable implants in tortuous vasculature, such as the aortic arch, is challenging due to the difficulty in navigating constrained implants through curved vessels without causing tissue damage or failing to conform to the anatomy.

Innovation Solution

A catheter assembly with flexible sleeves that constrain the expandable implant in a collapsed configuration for delivery, allowing selective axial and rotational positioning before full deployment, and an apposition line for bending control, facilitating deployment in tortuous anatomy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the expandable implant is constrained in a small delivery diameter to allow insertion into the vasculature, then the implant can be delivered endoluminally, but the implant becomes difficult to navigate through vasculature with significant bending or curvature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery diameterVSAvoidnavigate through tortuous vasculature

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is segmented into multiple expandable sections or struts that can be independently positioned or flexed, allowing the constrained implant to navigate tortuous vasculature more effectively while maintaining the small delivery diameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The implant transitions from a static constrained configuration during delivery to a dynamic expandable configuration at the target site, allowing it to adapt to tortuous vasculature geometry after initial navigation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the expandable implant is constrained in a small delivery diameter for remote delivery, then minimally invasive access is achieved, but the implant cannot conform to tortuous anatomy such as the aortic arch

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue damageVSAvoidconform to tortuous anatomy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is pre-shaped or pre-formed with a configuration that anticipates the target anatomy, allowing it to conform to tortuous structures like the aortic arch upon deployment without causing tissue damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The implant's physical parameters (diameter, shape, flexibility) are changed from a constrained delivery state to an expanded conforming state, enabling adaptation to tortuous anatomy while maintaining minimal invasiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10117765B2Apposition fiber for use in endoluminal deployment of expandable implants

Publication Date: 2018.11.06 WL GORE & ASSOC INC

AI summary

The present disclosure describes treatment of the vasculature of a patient with an expandable implant. The implant is constrained to a reduced delivery diameter for delivery within the vasculature by at least one sleeve. The implant can be constrained to other diameters, such as an intermediate diameter. The sleeves can be expanded, allowing for expansion of the diameter of the expandable implant, by disengaging a coupling member from the sleeve or sleeves from outside of the body of the patient. The expandable implant can comprise an apposition line or lines which facilitate bending of the expandable implant to improve conformation of the expandable implant to the vasculature of the patient.