Modular Endoluminal Prosthesis with Adjustable Limb Extensions

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Solution Overview

Problem

The deployment of endoluminal stent grafts in complex vascular anatomy, such as aneurysms affecting main vessels and branch vessels, is time-consuming and challenging due to the need for custom-fabricated grafts that match individual patient anatomy, and existing systems face difficulties in efficiently delivering multiple smaller branch grafts, leading to increased procedural time and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A modular endoluminal prosthesis system with biocompatible materials, featuring a bifurcated graft with adjustable limb extensions and passageways that can be aligned and mated with branch vessels, allowing for customizable deployment and efficient alignment with specific artery ostiums, facilitating the use of preloaded systems with stents and radiopaque markers for precise positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If pre-fabricated grafts with fixed fenestration configurations are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to varying patient anatomy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidanatomy matching capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The graft is divided into modular segments including a main body with fenestrations and separate branch grafts that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be produced using standardized processes while the final assembled configuration can be customized to match specific patient anatomy variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The graft system incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that allow the configuration to be modified after manufacturing. The modular design enables dynamic adaptation of the graft geometry to accommodate different anatomical presentations without requiring completely different pre-fabricated configurations for each patient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If custom-fabricated grafts are manufactured for each patient's anatomy, then adaptability to patient-specific anatomy is improved, but manufacturing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomy matching capabilityVSAvoidgraft manufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the graft into standardized modular components, the system achieves custom patient-specific configurations through assembly of pre-manufactured parts rather than complete custom fabrication. This reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the ability to adapt to various anatomies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The modular components are prepared and pre-manufactured in advance with standardized interfaces, allowing rapid assembly into patient-specific configurations. This preliminary preparation of standardized components eliminates the need for time-consuming custom fabrication while still enabling anatomy-specific customization through selective assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate branch grafts are delivered and assembled, then adaptability to complex anatomy is improved, but procedural time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplex anatomy coverageVSAvoiddeployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple branch grafts are merged into a single integrated modular assembly with pre-established connections and standardized interfaces. This combining approach maintains the ability to address complex anatomy with multiple branches while reducing deployment complexity by delivering a unified structure rather than requiring separate delivery and assembly of multiple independent grafts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The modular branch grafts are pre-assembled and pre-configured before delivery, with connections and orientations prepared in advance. This preliminary assembly reduces procedural time and operational complexity during the actual deployment by eliminating the need for complex in-procedure assembly maneuvers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10092391B2Endoluminal prosthesis having modular branches and methods of deployment

Publication Date: 2018.10.09 COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

The present embodiments provide an endoluminal prosthesis having modular branches, and systems and methods for facilitating deployment of the endoluminal prosthesis. In one example, the endoluminal prosthesis comprises a graft including a bifurcated body of a biocompatible material. The bifurcated body includes distally extending limbs. Limb extensions can be longitudinally and circumferentially adjusted prior to mating with the limbs to enable an “off-the-shelf” prosthesis that can conform to various complex anatomy. When adjusted and mated, fenestrations in the limb extensions can align with branch vessels.