Flexible Stretch-Resistant Delivery Member for Tortuous Vessels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intravascular delivery systems face challenges in maintaining stability and control during the delivery of medical devices due to the lack of flexibility and resistance to elongation in the distal portion, leading to potential detachment and inaccurate placement of embolic coils in aneurysms.
Innovation Solution
A delivery member with a flexible distal portion incorporating a coiled wire structure, a flexible polymer sleeve, and a stretch-resistant inner member to maintain stability and prevent elongation, featuring a mechanical engagement system for precise deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the distal portion of the delivery member is made flexible to navigate tortuous anatomy, then the ability to reach target location is improved, but the stability and resistance to elongation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery member is divided into distinct segments: a flexible distal portion containing a coil structure for navigation, and a more stable proximal portion. This segmentation allows each section to have optimized properties - the distal coil provides flexibility for navigating tortuous vessels, while the proximal section maintains stability for controlled device deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery member employs composite construction combining different material properties in the distal portion - a coil structure made from elastic material (such as shape memory alloy or nitinol) that provides both flexibility for navigation and resistance to permanent elongation. This composite approach allows the distal portion to navigate tortuous anatomy while maintaining sufficient stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the distal portion is made stiff to maintain stability during device delivery, then the stability is improved, but the ability to navigate tortuous anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The distal portion of the delivery member features a dynamic coil structure that can adapt its properties during the procedure. The coil can be compressed and expanded, allowing it to flexibly navigate tortuous vessels initially, then maintain stability once positioned. The dynamic nature of the coil structure enables it to transition between flexible navigation mode and stable delivery mode.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the delivery member is made flexible to reduce trauma to surrounding tissue, then the safety is improved, but the control and precision of embolic material placement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery member exhibits local quality variations along its length, with the distal portion being more flexible for gentle navigation and tissue interaction, while the proximal portion maintains greater stiffness for precise control. This gradient in mechanical properties allows the device to be both safe for tissue and precise for embolic material placement.
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery member is provided for delivering and deploying an intravascular medical device. The delivery member includes a flexible distal portion including a wound wire coil surrounded by a flexible sleeve and inhibited from extending lengthwise by a stretch resistant member positioned through a lumen of the coil. The delivery member can include hypotubes positioned on either side (distally and proximally) from the wound wire coil to which the stretch resistant member and the wound wire coil can be attached.