Modular Multibranch Stent Assembly for Aortic Seal and Branch Perfusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in treating intra-vascular diseases such as aneurysms and dissections in the aorta and peripheral arteries lies in effectively bypassing the diseased region using stent-grafts without occluding critical branch arteries, while ensuring a secure seal and maintaining blood flow.
Innovation Solution
A modular multibranch stent assembly is deployed, featuring a main body with a bypass gate and a bifurcated contra limb, which includes distal limbs for independent deployment of bridging stent grafts in critical arteries, allowing for precise placement and perfusion maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stent-graft is placed to seal off the diseased portion of the aorta, then the diseased region is effectively bypassed and sealed, but critical branch arteries may be covered or occluded by the stent-graft
Solution Approach 1:
The stent-graft is divided into multiple segments including a body portion and multiple branch portions, each serving distinct functions. The body portion seals the diseased aortic segment while the branch portions selectively extend into branch arteries to maintain patency, resolving the contradiction between effective sealing and branch artery preservation through structural segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
Branch gates act as intermediary structures that selectively control blood flow between the aortic lumen and branch arteries. These gates can be opened to allow flow into branch arteries or closed to redirect flow, serving as a mediator that prevents branch artery occlusion while maintaining the seal of the main stent-graft body.
2Productivity
If a stent-graft is placed to seal against the aorta wall and provide a flow conduit, then blood flow past the diseased portion is maintained, but branch arteries may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The stent-graft structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: the body portion provides the main flow conduit and seal, while integrated branch portions with controllable gates provide selective access to branch arteries. This multi-functionality allows the single device to maintain aortic flow while preserving branch artery perfusion through the gate mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The branch gates are designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing operators to open or close them based on physiological needs. This dynamic capability enables the stent-graft to adapt between maintaining aortic seal integrity and providing branch artery access, resolving the contradiction between flow conduit function and branch artery preservation.
3Reliability
If a modular multibranch stent assembly is deployed with multiple bridging stent grafts, then perfusion to critical arteries is ensured and type I endoleaks are minimized, but the device complexity and deployment procedure are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The stent-graft is divided into modular segments (body portion and multiple branch portions) that can be independently positioned and secured. Each segment serves a specific function and can be deployed in a staged manner, which manages complexity by breaking down the overall complex structure into manageable, functionally-defined modules.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple bridging stent grafts are merged into a single integrated modular assembly that is deployed as one unit. This combining approach ensures coordinated placement and secure sealing at all interfaces, maintaining reliability while managing complexity through unified design and deployment rather than separate procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of deploying a modular multibranch stent assembly. The method includes deploying a first modular stent device in an ascending aorta. The first modular stent device includes a main body, a bypass gate extending from the main body, and a bifurcated contra limb extending from the main body. The bifurcated contra limb includes a first distal limb and a second distal limb. The method further includes deploying a first bridging stent graft in the first distal limb and/or a second bridging stent graft in the second distal limb.