Induction Responsive Muscle Stent for Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endovascular stents face issues with sudden expansion and incorrect placement due to their elastic radial force, leading to sub-optimal deployment and lack of adjustability after deployment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of induction responsive muscles attached to the stent's struts, which change state in response to temperature changes, allowing the stent to be adjusted in orientation and position by immersing it in an electromagnetic induction field, enabling contraction and re-expansion for precise placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stents rely on elastic radial force to expand to vessel inner diameter, then stent can be deployed, but stent suddenly expands and jumps to delivery position causing incorrect placement
Solution Approach 1:
The stent incorporates muscles that can dynamically change their contraction state in response to electromagnetic fields, allowing the stent to transition between expanded and contracted states. This dynamic capability enables controlled adjustment of stent position and orientation after initial deployment, preventing incorrect placement while maintaining deployment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The stent uses temperature-sensitive muscles that change their physical state based on temperature parameters. By exposing the stent to electromagnetic fields that generate heat, the muscles contract to adjust stent position, then cool to return to expanded state. This parameter-based control provides precise deployment adjustment without sudden jumping
2Reliability
If releasable ties are used to slow stent expansion, then expansion speed is reduced, but sub-optimal deployment risk remains and no readjustment option is provided
Solution Approach 1:
The muscle-integrated stent provides continuous dynamic adjustability after deployment, unlike static releasable ties. The muscles can be activated multiple times to readjust stent position and orientation, offering versatile readjustment capability while maintaining precise deployment control through controlled contraction sequences
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical releasable ties with electromagnetic-field-controlled muscles. This substitution eliminates the need for physical tie mechanisms while providing superior control through non-contact electromagnetic activation, enabling both precise deployment and multiple readjustment opportunities
3Adaptability or versatility
If induction responsive muscles are added to enable adjustment, then readjustment capability is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The muscles serve multiple functions: they control stent expansion during deployment, enable position adjustment after deployment, and provide orientation control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maximizing readjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
By replacing complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with electromagnetic-field-controlled muscles, the invention reduces overall device complexity. The muscles are activated remotely through electromagnetic fields without requiring mechanical linkages, gears, or manual adjustment components, simplifying the stent structure while providing comprehensive readjustment options
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
Enables precise adjustment and repositioning of stents within the body, reducing the risk of sub-optimal deployment and irregular expansion, allowing for improved vessel wall contact and optimal placement.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the induction responsive muscles has a relaxed state at temperatures less than 37° C., and has a contracted state at a temperature greater than 37° C.
Implementation Method 2
The stent is contracted from the deployed configuration toward the contracted configuration by immersing the stent in an electromagnetic induction field
Data Source
AI summary
A stent has a tubular shaped framework that includes a plurality of vertices that are each defined by a pair of struts. A plurality of induction responsive muscles are associated, respectively, with one of the plurality of vertices by being attached to each strut of a pair of struts. The induction responsive muscles have a relaxed state at body temperatures, and have a contracted state at an elevated temperature greater than body temperature. If the stent has an initial unsatisfactory implant orientation or position or other expansion irregularity, the application of an electromagnetic induction field may be applied to temporary 11 reduce the diameter of the stent to adjust its positioning and/or orientation.