Fenestrated Graft Alignment for Branch Vessel Patency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional branch graft arrangements for treating aneurysms in arterial vessels are complex, requiring multiple steps for insertion and alignment with branch vessels, leading to potential obstruction of blood flow and reduced procedural efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A branch graft system with lateral openings (fenestrations) in a main graft that can be adjusted to align with varying branch vessel positions, using a tubular expandable main body and branch grafts made from materials like ePTFE, allowing for circumferential and axial movement of fenestrations to match branch arteries, facilitated by a fenestration alignment device and guidewire system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tubular graft or stent graft is implanted in the aorta, then the aneurysm can be treated, but blood flow obstruction in branch vessels occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The graft is divided into multiple segments with lateral openings (fenestrations) at specific locations to allow blood flow into branch vessels. The main graft body is segmented with openings, and branch grafts are separately positioned to create multiple flow pathways, preventing obstruction while treating the aneurysm.
Solution Approach 2:
The branch graft is nested within the main graft structure, with the branch graft positioned through lateral openings in the main graft. This nested configuration allows the branch graft to be delivered through the main graft delivery system and deployed at the appropriate location to maintain blood flow without requiring separate implantation procedures.
2Reliability
If prior branch graft arrangements are used, then branch vessel patency can be maintained, but procedural complexity and duration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The main graft and branch graft are combined into a single integrated delivery system. The branch graft is pre-positioned within the main graft delivery catheter, allowing both grafts to be delivered and deployed in a coordinated manner through a unified system rather than separate procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The branch graft is pre-positioned and pre-aligned within the delivery system before reaching the target location. The delivery catheter is configured with the branch graft in advance, allowing for preliminary alignment with the branch vessel ostium before final deployment, reducing the need for complex intra-procedural adjustments.
3Reliability
If prior branch graft arrangements are used, then branch vessel patency can be maintained, but procedure duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system maintains continuous control over both the main graft and branch graft throughout the procedure. The coordinated deployment allows for continuous advancement and positioning without interruption, maintaining useful action throughout the implantation process and reducing overall procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
Alignment and positioning准备工作 are performed in advance during device assembly. The branch graft is pre-positioned relative to the main graft in the delivery system, allowing for rapid deployment at the target site without time-consuming adjustments during the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
A fenestrated graft deployment system, with a delivery catheter having a catheter body. An endoluminal prosthesis having a main graft body, the main graft body having a lumen therethrough and a first opening laterally through a wall of the main graft body. A first guidewire prepositioned within the delivery catheter extending through at least a portion of the catheter body into a main lumen of the endoluminal prosthesis and through the first opening in the wall of the prosthesis when the delivery catheter is in a predeployed configuration. A first fenestration alignment device is configured to extend through at least a portion of the delivery catheter and is configured to be axially moveable relative to the first guidewire. The first fenestration alignment device has an end portion having an outside perimeter configured such that when an end portion of the fenestration alignment device moves toward the first opening of said main graft body the outside perimeter of the first opening is smaller than the outside perimeter of the first fenestration alignment device and prevents it from passing through the first opening and causes the main graft body adjacent to the first opening to move with the end of the first fenestration alignment device to act as alignment tool to allow an operator to align the first opening in the side of the endoluminal prosthesis with an ostium of a target branch vessel into which said first opening is to extend and act as a guide and seal for a subsequently delivered branch graft endoluminal prosthesis.