Expandable Introducer Vessel Spasm Prevention

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing expandable introducers face challenges during medical procedures, particularly when transitioning from a smaller size to a larger size, as this can cause vascular spasms that occlude vessels, complicating the exchange of introducers, such as from a 5 French to a 7 French size.

Innovation Solution

An expandable introducer system comprising an elongate member, an expandable member, an expander, and a support member, which allows the introducer to transition from an unexpanded to an expanded configuration, maintaining the expanded state with the support member and facilitating the removal of the expander, while an exchange dilator aids in removing the introducer and inserting a larger dilator or medical device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an expandable introducer is used to transition from a smaller size to a larger size, then the introducer can facilitate device exchange, but it causes vascular spasms that occlude vessels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintroducer size transition capabilityVSAvoidvascular spasm and vessel occlusion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The introducer is pre-configured in a compressed, low-profile state that allows it to be inserted into the vessel before expansion. The expansion occurs after positioning, preventing vascular spasm during the critical insertion phase while still enabling size transition for device exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The introducer employs a dynamic structure that can transition between compressed and expanded states. This dynamic configuration allows the introducer to adapt its size based on procedural needs, facilitating device exchange from smaller to larger sizes without causing vascular spasms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the expandable introducer is expanded to a larger size, then it can accommodate larger medical devices, but it complicates the exchange of introducers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice accommodation capacityVSAvoidintroducer exchange complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The introducer utilizes a nested structure where components are contained within one another in a compressed state. This nesting allows the introducer to be collapsed to a small profile for easy exchange while maintaining the capacity to expand to larger sizes for accommodating medical devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The introducer is divided into segmented sections that can independently compress and expand. This segmentation enables the introducer to be collapsed for exchange procedures while maintaining structural integrity, and expanded to accommodate various device sizes without increasing overall exchange complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the expandable introducer is compressed to a smaller size, then it can be easily inserted into vessels, but it reduces the capacity to accommodate medical devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintroducer insertion easeVSAvoidmedical device accommodation capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The introducer employs a dynamic structure that can transition between compressed and expanded states. This dynamic configuration allows the introducer to adapt its size based on procedural needs, facilitating device exchange from smaller to larger sizes without causing vascular spasms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The introducer is pre-configured in a compressed, low-profile state that allows it to be inserted into the vessel before expansion. The expansion occurs after positioning, preventing vascular spasm during the critical insertion phase while still enabling size transition for device exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11413437B2Expandable introducer assembly

Publication Date: 2022.08.16 MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Expandable introducer systems are provided. An expandable introducer system can include an expandable introducer, an expander, a support member, and/or an exchange dilator. The expandable introducer may be configured to transition from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration. For example, the expander may be displaced through the expandable introducer and transition the expandable introducer from the unexpanded configuration to the expanded configuration. The support member may be disposed within the expandable introducer that is in the expanded configuration to maintain the expandable introducer in the expanded configuration.