Linked Stent Segments for Customized Vessel Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stent delivery systems face challenges in accurately assessing lesion length, leading to incomplete apposition and potential movement or tilting of stent segments in irregularly shaped or tapered vessels, requiring additional procedures and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A luminal prosthesis delivery system with multiple linked or coupled stent segments that can be separated and expanded differentially, using various coupling structures to maintain attachment and prevent relative axial movement, allowing for customized length deployment in a single procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple delivery catheters are used to deliver multiple stent segments, then complete coverage of the lesion is achieved, but procedure time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into multiple separable segments that can be selectively deployed from a single delivery catheter. The coupling structure allows segments to be separated and deployed independently, enabling complete lesion coverage while maintaining a single-catheter approach, thus reducing procedure time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure between stent segments is designed to be dynamically separable. It maintains segments together during delivery but can be separated upon deployment, allowing flexible adaptation to different lesion lengths and configurations from a single loaded catheter.
2Ease of operation
If a single balloon of constant diameter is used to expand stent segments, then deployment is simplified, but segments may not engage tightly in tapered or irregular vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is segmented to allow different portions to be expanded independently. This enables segments in tapered or irregular vessels to achieve proper apposition while maintaining overall structural integrity, resolving the conflict between simple deployment and precise fitting.
Solution Approach 2:
Different stent segments can be expanded to different diameters tailored to local vessel characteristics. This local customization of expansion diameter allows each segment to match the specific geometry of its location in tapered or irregular vessels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If stent segments are delivered simultaneously from a single catheter, then customization of stent length is achieved, but segments may tilt or move if not fully apposed
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into multiple segments that can be selectively deployed and independently apposed to the vessel wall. This segmentation allows customization of the deployed length while ensuring each segment achieves stable apposition, preventing tilting or movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure is designed to maintain segment alignment and prevent tilting during the deployment process. This preliminary stabilization ensures segments remain properly positioned before final apposition is achieved, enhancing overall stability.
4Reliability
If multiple stents are delivered to cover a long lesion, then complete coverage is achieved, but the number of delivery catheters required increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single delivery catheter is designed to carry multiple stent segments that can be selectively separated and deployed. This allows complete coverage of long lesions using one catheter instead of multiple catheters, reducing procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single delivery catheter is designed with multi-functionality to deliver and deploy multiple stent segments of varying lengths. This universal delivery system replaces the need for multiple specialized catheters, simplifying the overall procedure.
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 effective deployment of a customized, variable length stent in irregularly shaped vessels with improved apposition and reduced risk of stent movement, facilitating treatment of multiple lesions without multiple delivery catheters.
Implementation Method 1
the coupling structure permits the selected stent segments to separate from the remaining prosthetic stent segments upon differential radial expansion of the selected stent segments
Data Source
AI summary
A luminal prosthesis comprises a plurality of radially expandable prosthetic stent segments arranged axially. Two or more of the prosthetic stent segments are separable upon expansion from the remaining prosthetic stent segments and a coupling structure connects at least some of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments to each other. The coupling structure permits a first group of the adjacent prosthetic stent segments to separate from a second group of the prosthetic stent segments upon differential radial expansion of the first group relative to the second group and the coupling structure maintains or forms an attachment between the adjacent prosthetic stent segments in the first group which have been expanded together. A delivery system and methods for deploying the multiple coupled prosthetic stent segments are also disclosed.