Mobile External Coupling for Branch Vessel Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stent-grafts face challenges in effectively sealing and directing blood flow from the main aorta to branch vessels, particularly at thoracic aneurysm locations, due to issues with fenestrations not forming a tight seal and potential leakage, and branch stent-grafts often require complex deployment procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of an endovascular prosthesis with a tubular body and a mobile external coupling, featuring a frustoconically shaped graft material and an annular support wireform that provides structural integrity and flexibility to align with branch vessels, reducing leakage and improving flow alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fenestrations are used in stent-grafts to accommodate branch vessels, then blood flow to branch vessels is enabled, but sealing is compromised and leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The stent-graft is divided into separate modular components: a main body stent-graft and a separate branch stent-graft. The branch stent-graft is delivered through a catheter and attached to the main body after deployment, allowing each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The branch stent-graft is delivered nested within the main body stent-graft structure. The branch stent-graft catheter passes through the main body stent-graft, and the branch stent-graft itself is collapsed within its delivery catheter during insertion, enabling sequential deployment while maintaining a sealed system.
2Reliability
If stent-grafts are deployed to seal against the aorta wall, then aneurysm exclusion is achieved, but precise alignment with branch vessels becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The branch stent-graft is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be adjusted and repositioned after initial deployment. The self-expanding mechanism enables the branch stent-graft to adapt to the natural anatomy and move slightly to achieve optimal alignment with the branch vessel ostium while maintaining the seal of the main body stent-graft.
Solution Approach 2:
The branch stent-graft utilizes a self-expanding mechanism that automatically adjusts to the local anatomy upon deployment. The elastic memory of the stent structure allows it to self-position and adapt to the branch vessel opening without requiring complex external manipulation or precise pre-positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If branch stent-grafts are integrated into main stent-grafts, then flow path is provided, but deployment becomes complex requiring multiple sleeves and guide wires
Solution Approach 1:
The branch stent-graft is extracted as a separate, independently deliverable component rather than being integrated into the main body stent-graft structure. This allows the branch stent-graft to be delivered through its own dedicated catheter, simplifying the overall deployment procedure by eliminating the need for complex integrated delivery systems with multiple sleeves and guide wires.
Solution Approach 2:
The main body stent-graft is deployed first and secured in position before the branch stent-graft is introduced and attached. This preliminary deployment sequence simplifies the overall procedure by establishing a stable foundation first, then adding the branch component in a separate, simpler step rather than attempting simultaneous complex deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
An endovascular prosthesis includes a tubular body and a mobile external coupling. The tubular body includes a graft material and stents coupled thereto, and forms a lumen therethrough. The mobile external coupling includes a graft material, extends outwardly from the tubular body, and is generally frustoconically shaped. The mobile external coupling includes a base coupled to the tubular body, a top spaced from the tubular body, and a coupling lumen disposed between the base and the top that is in flow communication with the body lumen. An annular support wireform is coupled to the mobile external coupling, and is formed into a sinusoidal configuration having a plurality of opposing first crowns and second crowns, the first crowns of the support wireform extending around of the top of the mobile external coupling. The coupling graft material extending between the second crowns of the support wireform and the tubular body is unsupported.