Morphometric Vessel Support for Ascending Aorta
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood vessel supports, particularly for the ascending aorta, are time-consuming to manufacture and apply due to the need for precise morphological matching, are difficult to position accurately, and can cause patient discomfort and increased risk of rupture in conditions like Marfan's Syndrome and Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece support with morphological correspondence to the ascending aorta, formed from a deformable material like a settable mesh, which can be pre-shaped to match the vessel's dimensions and regions of varying support needs, providing adjustable hoop strength and flexibility to reduce the risk of rupture and ease surgical application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a two-piece stent is used to support the blood vessel, then the support can be manufactured with morphological relationship to the vessel, but the surgical application becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate stent pieces into a single integrated stent structure. This single-piece design eliminates the need for separate assembly steps during surgery while maintaining the morphological relationship with the blood vessel through pre-formed curvature and configuration. The stent is manufactured as one continuous element that can be directly implanted without requiring multiple components to be joined together.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent is pre-formed with the specific curvature and morphology needed to match the blood vessel shape during the manufacturing process. This preliminary shaping of the stent into its final operational configuration eliminates the need for intraoperative formation or assembly, reducing surgical time while ensuring precise morphological matching is achieved before implantation.
2Strength
If a rigid metal structure is used to impose morphology on the blood vessel, then the support structure is strong, but the device cannot adapt to varying vessel shapes and sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The stent incorporates regions of varying density and structural characteristics tailored to specific locations along the blood vessel. Areas requiring greater support have increased mesh density or thicker struts, while regions needing flexibility have sparser structures. This local differentiation allows the stent to provide appropriate strength where needed while adapting to the overall vessel morphology throughout its length.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent design utilizes changes in geometric parameters such as mesh aperture size, strut thickness, and cell density along its length to adapt to varying vessel dimensions. By progressively adjusting these parameters during manufacturing, the stent maintains structural integrity while conforming to the specific curvature and diameter profile of the blood vessel, enabling both strength and adaptability.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple 2-dimensional image slices are collected and stacked to reconstruct a 3-dimensional CAD model, then the support can be shaped to match the blood vessel, but patient movement and fatigue make image collection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a digital 3D reconstruction of the blood vessel morphology to create the stent design. Instead of requiring physical manipulation or complex image acquisition sequences, the system creates a virtual copy of the vessel shape from pre-existing 2D imaging data, then generates the stent geometry from this digital model. This approach maintains manufacturing precision while eliminating the need for difficult real-time image collection during patient procedures.
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 support is easier to manufacture and implant, reduces post-operative complications, and provides tailored support to the ascending aorta, minimizing the risk of rupture and leakage, while being easier to position and apply, thus reducing surgical time and patient discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
formed from a deformable material like a settable mesh, which can be pre-shaped to match the vessel's dimensions
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The invention provides a support (200) adapted for location exteriorly of a blood vessel, the support being locatable around the blood vessel and shaped to be in morphological relationship with the blood vessel, wherein the support is formed from a settable material and wherein the support may be formed into a tube; and a method of morphometric analysis of a patient's blood vessel using an imaging scanner which method comprises: (i) obtaining a diametral cross-sectional image of the blood vessel; (ii) obtaining a pseudo-transverse cross-section image of the blood vessel; and (iii) processing the images from steps (i) and (ii) to construct a morphometric model of the blood vessel.