Flow Diverter Stent with Dual-Diameter Wire Braid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flow diversion devices for intracranial aneurysms face challenges such as kinking due to tortuous cerebral arteries, inadequate radial strength, and limited visibility during procedures, which can lead to reduced efficacy and increased risks during endovascular treatments.
Innovation Solution
A self-expanding flow diverter stent braided with two sets of wires, including thicker, stiffer wires for enhanced kink resistance and radial strength, and optionally incorporating radio-opaque materials for improved visibility, using a checker-board or ring pattern to maintain structural integrity and adaptability to arterial curves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If flow diverter stent uses thinner wires for flexibility, then adaptability to tortuous arteries is improved, but kink resistance and radial strength deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flow diverter stent is constructed using composite material structure combining two different wire diameters (first diameter and second diameter greater than first diameter) braided together. This composite wire structure provides both flexibility for navigating tortuous arteries and sufficient kink resistance and radial strength for effective flow diversion and vessel support.
2Strength
If flow diverter stent uses thicker wires for kink resistance, then kink resistance is improved, but flexibility and adaptability to arterial curves deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-diameter wire braid creates a composite structure where thinner wires provide flexibility for navigating arterial curves while thicker wires provide kink resistance. The synergistic combination resolves the contradiction between these opposing requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If flow diverter stent uses standard braid pattern, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but radial strength and structural integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite braid pattern using two wire diameters in specific geometric arrangements (such as alternating or interleaved patterns). This enhanced braid design improves radial strength and structural integrity while remaining manufacturable through conventional braiding techniques.
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 device exhibits excellent kink resistance and radial strength, maintaining blood flow and reducing the risk of migration, while providing enhanced visibility during procedures, thus effectively diverting blood flow away from aneurysms and promoting healing.
Implementation Method 1
A self expanding flow diversion device with enhanced kink resistance and radial strength... intravascular medical device called as a self expanding flow diverter... radially compressed during delivery and can be expanded in radial direction during deployment
Data Source
AI summary
A flow diverter device is used to redirect the blood flow inside the cerebral blood vessels and for the reduction of blood flow to the aneurysm, hence preventing the chance of aneurysm rupture as well as promoting the healing of the aneurysm. The novel design of the device, using a set of thicker wires, provides high kink resistance and radial strength. Two patterns of inter-braiding the thicker set of wires with the finer braid are disclosed, one having a checker-board and the other a ring structure. Both patterns are highly kink resistant with the checker-board design providing minimal loss in flexibility, whereas the ring design provides greater radial strength. The device could be made of super elastic materials like Nitinol wires with the thicker set being radio opaque. The device is highly kink resistant and sufficiently flexible for use in vasculature with complex bends.