Implantable Flow Adjuster for Aneurysm Pressure Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for aneurysms, particularly at bifurcations or trifurcations, are ineffective in reducing blood flow and pressure on the aneurysm wall, leading to continued wall shear stress and potential rupture, as existing devices fail to adequately divert blood flow away from the aneurysm.
Innovation Solution
An endoluminal flow adjuster with a panel dividing the flow passage into unequal cross-sectional areas, creating a pressure differential that diverts blood flow across the aneurysm neck rather than into it, reducing blood pressure and wall shear stress, thereby promoting aneurysm remodeling and healthy vessel wall reformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prosthetic coils are used to fill the aneurysmal sac, then thrombus formation and isolation of the aneurysm wall from blood flow is achieved, but blood flow pressure on the aneurysm wall is not reduced and effectiveness is poor at bifurcations
Solution Approach 1:
The flow adjuster divides the blood flow into separate streams using a panel with flow-constraining features, creating distinct high-pressure and low-pressure zones. This segmentation of flow paths allows selective diversion of blood away from the aneurysm sac while maintaining flow through the main vessel, directly addressing the limitation of coil filling which does not create flow differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel incorporates localized flow-constraining features at specific positions to create unequal flow distribution. By modifying the local geometry of the flow passage through the panel, the device creates targeted pressure differentials at the aneurysm location without affecting overall blood flow through the vessel, thereby reducing wall stress locally at the aneurysm while maintaining systemic circulation.
2Stress or pressure
If flow diversion devices are used to close off the aneurysmal sac entrance, then flow into the sac is reduced, but existing devices fail to effectively reduce blood flow or pressure applied to the wall
Solution Approach 1:
The panel modifies flow passage parameters by creating variable cross-sectional areas through its geometry and flow-constraining features. This changes the flow velocity and pressure distribution across different paths, creating a pressure differential that effectively diverts flow away from the aneurysm. The parameter changes in flow geometry directly produce the pressure reduction needed for effective flow diversion.
3Stress or pressure
If the passage is divided into unequal flow cross-sectional areas, then pressure differential is created to alter flow path, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is constructed as a thin, flexible structure that can be deployed within the vessel without requiring complex mechanical assemblies. This thin-film approach creates the necessary flow division and pressure differential through its geometric configuration rather than through complex mechanical means, thereby achieving the desired pressure effects while minimizing device complexity.
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 flow adjuster effectively reduces blood flow into the aneurysm, lowering wall shear stress and facilitating the remodeling of the aneurysm, potentially preventing rupture by altering the blood flow dynamics across the vessel.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second parts provide unequal flow cross sectional areas through the flow adjuster, thereby to create a fluid pressure differential between the first and second parts
Implementation Method 2
This pressure differential can alter the flow path of fluid and in practice to pass across the neck of an aneurysm rather than into the aneurysm
Implementation Method 3
there is a reduction of blood pressure in the aneurysm and thereby of wall shear stress, which can help in the process of remodelling of the aneurysm and reformation of healthy vessel wall
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable flow adjuster (20) includes proximal and distal support rings (22, 24) which support a flow adjuster panel (26). The flow adjuster panel (26) divides the lumen through the device (20) into two sections, one of reducing cross sectional area and the other of increasing of increasing cross sectional area. The two sections (40, 42) cause, respectively, an increase in blood pressure and blood flow and a decrease in blood pressure and blood flow. These result is a pressure differential beyond the distal end of the device (20). This pressure differential can be used to divert blood flow away from the neck (14) into an aneurysm (12), thus to reduce pressure and wall sheer stress within the aneurysm in order to assist in the repair of the vessel.