Braided Mesh Vessel Occluder for Rapid Sealing and Stable Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vessel plugs face challenges in achieving rapid occlusion while ensuring ease of deliverability and preventing migration, particularly in treating conditions like aneurysms, left atrial appendage, atrial septal defect, fistulas, patent foramen ovale, and patent ductus arteriosus.
Innovation Solution
A vascular plug with a braided mesh portion that expands to a three-dimensional shape, incorporating a flexible membrane and an elastic member, and a detachment mechanism using a heater coil to facilitate deployment and secure attachment within the vessel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If embolic coils are used to occlude the treatment area, then the target treatment site can be filled, but a substantial amount of time is required to achieve occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines multiple functional elements into a single integrated plug: a mesh portion for structural support and conformation, a flexible membrane for rapid sealing, and an elastic member for expansion force. This segmentation of functions within one device enables rapid occlusion while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The vascular plug is pre-formed with the desired three-dimensional shape and elastic expansion capability before deployment. The elastic member is pre-loaded to provide immediate expansion force upon release, eliminating the time required for gradual filling as seen with coils.
2Productivity
If vessel plugs are designed to provide rapid occlusion, then occlusion speed is improved, but ease of delivery and resistance to migration are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh portion is configured to nest within a delivery catheter in a compressed state, allowing easy delivery through narrow vessels. Upon deployment, the mesh expands to its three-dimensional shape, providing both rapid occlusion and structural stability to prevent migration.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a static compressed state during delivery to a dynamic expanded state at the target site. The elastic member provides controlled expansion force, enabling the plug to adapt to the vessel geometry while maintaining deliverability through the catheter.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the mesh portion expands to a three-dimensional shape, then conformation to the target space is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane portion provides conformability to the target space through its inherent flexibility and ability to deform. This thin film structure achieves adaptation to complex geometries without requiring a complex rigid framework, thereby maintaining relative simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines different materials with complementary properties: the mesh portion provides structural integrity and expandability, the flexible membrane provides conformability and sealing, and the elastic member provides expansion force. This composite structure achieves high adaptability while distributing complexity across multiple simple components.
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 vascular plug effectively conforms to the target space for rapid occlusion, ensuring ease of delivery and minimizing migration, thereby providing efficient blockage in vascular treatments.
Implementation Method 1
a detachment mechanism using a heater coil to facilitate deployment
Implementation Method 2
the vascular plug includes an elastic member within the mesh portion to assist in expansion of the vascular plug within a patient
Data Source
AI summary
A vessel occluder used to occlude blood flow within the vasculature is described. The vessel occluder can include an expandable mesh portion having a flexible membrane that expands within a cavity of the expandable mesh portion. When expanded, the flexible membrane blocks blood passage through the mesh portion.