Compressible Knitted Loop Fabric for Shape Recovery After Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices with fabric components often lose resiliency when stored in a compressed state for extended periods, leading to inadequate sealing upon deployment due to absorption of fluid media or lack of exposure to ambient air, which can result in device failure.
Innovation Solution
A compressible resilient fabric with a ground layer of knitted yarn and a loop layer of multifilament yarn, designed to be compressible and resilient, featuring a high denier per filament ratio and differential shrinkage properties to maintain shape and structure upon deployment, is developed. This fabric is made by knitting a ground layer and loop layer with specific yarn properties and processing methods to ensure recovery to its original configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the fabric is compressed for extended storage in fluid media, then the device can be stored in sterile packaging, but the fabric loses resiliency and fails to regain its original shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the yarn by using high shrinkage yarn (shrinkage of 30% or more) in the ground layer and low shrinkage yarn (shrinkage of 10% or less) in the loop layer. This parameter differentiation allows the fabric to maintain its resiliency during extended storage in fluid media while remaining compressible for delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite fabric structure combining two different yarn types with contrasting shrinkage properties. The ground layer uses high shrinkage yarn that can recover from compression, while the loop layer uses low shrinkage yarn that maintains its shape, together forming a fabric that retains resiliency during storage.
2Ease of operation
If the fabric is made highly compressible, then the device can be inserted into delivery catheter, but the fabric may lose ability to regain original shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fabric into two functional layers with different properties: the ground layer provides compressibility through high shrinkage yarn that can be compressed and then recover, while the loop layer provides shape retention through low shrinkage yarn. This segmentation allows the fabric to be both highly compressible for delivery and reliable for shape recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the fabric are given different qualities - the ground layer has high shrinkage for compressibility and recovery, while the loop layer has low shrinkage for maintaining loop structure. This local differentiation of properties enables the fabric to achieve both compressibility and shape recovery.
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 fabric effectively compresses for easy delivery and recovers to its original shape and dimensions upon deployment, ensuring a reliable seal and maintaining performance characteristics during storage and use, even when stored in fluid media.
Implementation Method 1
the ground layer yarn can comprise a yarn shrinkable substantially more than the loop layer yarn. For example, the ground layer yarn may comprise a yarn shrinkable about 40-60%, and the loop layer yarn can comprise a yarn shrinkable about 7-8%
Implementation Method 2
Fabric components of such medical devices can absorb fluid media in which they are packaged and stored. When medical device fabric absorbs fluid media, the fabric may be lose some resiliency for regaining its original shape and dimensions when deployed.
Data Source
AI summary
A compressible resilient fabric can include a ground layer of knitted yarn, and a loop layer comprising a plurality of loops of yarn, each loop having a point knit into the ground layer. The fabric can be compressible from an non-compressed configuration, in which each loop has an apex extending substantially perpendicularly outward from the ground layer, into a compressed configuration, in which each loop is collapsed onto the ground layer. The fabric can further be resilient so as to substantially resume the non-compressed configuration when compression is relieved. The loop layer yarn can include a multifilament yarn having a high denier per filament ratio. The ground layer yarn can include a yarn shrinkable substantially more than the loop layer yarn. The loops can be densely knit so as to support the extension of the loops outward from the ground layer.