Modular Venous Stent Segmentation Foreshortening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stents face challenges in precise placement and accommodating varying geometries within the venous system, particularly due to foreshortening issues in self-expanding braided stents and the need for modular designs that can adapt to different lumen diameters without compromising effectiveness or requiring a large inventory of stent models.

Innovation Solution

A modular intraluminal tubular stent system with customizable modules that include reinforced sections, fenestrae for side vein accommodation, and adjustable geometry, allowing for tailored deployment and anchoring to prevent movement between modules, enabling precise placement and expansion in the venous system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If self-expanding braided stents are used, then the stent can be delivered through catheters, but the stent undergoes considerable foreshortening upon deployment making precise placement difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeliverability through cathetersVSAvoidplacement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is divided into multiple interconnected rings rather than a continuous braid. This segmentation allows each ring to expand independently while maintaining overall structural integrity, reducing the foreshortening effect that occurs in continuous braided stents during deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stent employs a dynamic expansion mechanism where the interconnection between rings allows for controlled radial expansion while minimizing axial shortening. The geometric design of the ring connections enables the stent to adapt its shape during deployment, optimizing both deliverability and placement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If conventional stent designs are used, then the stent structure is simple, but the stent cannot accommodate varying geometries of different body lumens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent structure simplicityVSAvoidgeometry accommodation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the stent can have varying ring geometries, interconnection patterns, and material properties tailored to specific anatomical requirements. This allows the stent to adapt to varying lumen diameters and geometric characteristics along different body segments while maintaining an overall simple modular structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The stent design allows for modification of geometric parameters such as ring diameter, ring spacing, and interconnection angles to match different anatomical sites. By changing these parameters, the same basic stent architecture can be adapted to accommodate various lumen sizes and shapes without requiring completely different stent designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a large inventory of stent models is maintained to accommodate different lumen diameters, then all geometry requirements can be met, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelumen diameter coverageVSAvoidinventory requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single stent design with adjustable geometric parameters can serve multiple anatomical sites and lumen diameter requirements. The modular ring structure allows the same stent platform to be configured for different applications by modifying interconnection patterns and ring dimensions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized stent models in the inventory.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 modular stent system allows for customized deployment and anchoring, ensuring accurate placement and effective expansion in the venous system, reducing the risk of recurrent blockages and accommodating varying lumen diameters without foreshortening, thus improving treatment outcomes for stenosis and aneurysms.

Implementation Method 1

Nitinol, which has thermal memory, may help stents made of this material expand into position when exposed to body temperature after delivery.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal memory: Shape Memory Alloy

Data Source

PatentUS8636791B1Venous stent

Publication Date: 2014.01.28 RAJU SESHADRI

AI summary

This invention is a modular intraluminal tubular stent system for deployment in the venous system. One of the stents in the system includes a reinforced terminal end portion, such as a helical coil, to provide additional expansive force to maintain the initial deployed location of the stent. The coil may be interwoven into the wall of the stent, or a separate structure deployed separately.