Nested Balloon Catheter for Bifurcation Stent Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing balloon catheters face challenges in efficiently placing and widening stents in branching vessels, particularly at vascular bifurcations, requiring multiple steps and struggling to adapt to varying branch diameters, especially when using coupled balloons which are difficult to manage.
Innovation Solution
A balloon catheter design featuring a first inner balloon and a second outer balloon, both with separate supply lines for independent inflation, where the outer balloon encloses the inner balloon, allowing for a trumpet-like expansion with a significantly larger proximal diameter to accommodate stent placement and adaptation in branching vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single balloon catheter is used for stent placement in branching vessels, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to varying branch diameters and the ability to achieve gradual widening is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested balloon configuration where an inner balloon is positioned within an outer balloon, both expandable independently. This nested structure enables differentiated expansion patterns - the inner balloon can be expanded first to establish a base diameter, followed by expansion of the outer balloon to achieve larger diameters and trumpet-like shapes, thereby providing adaptability to varying branch diameters while maintaining a integrated catheter design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate balloons are used to achieve gradual widening, then the adaptability to different diameters is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the effort involved in using several separate balloons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple balloon functions into a single integrated catheter assembly. The inner and outer balloons are positioned concentrically within the same catheter shaft and can be expanded sequentially or simultaneously through a unified delivery system. This combination eliminates the need to manually manipulate multiple separate balloons, reducing operational complexity while preserving the gradual widening capability through controlled expansion sequences.
3Adaptability or versatility
If coupled balloons are used to achieve different expansion volumes, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation worsens because the coupled balloons are difficult to adapt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic balloon system where the inner and outer balloons can be expanded in different sequences and to different extents depending on the specific clinical requirement. The balloons are designed with independent inflation lumen s that allow flexible control of expansion timing and volume. This dynamic adaptability enables the operator to adjust the expansion strategy in real-time based on vessel anatomy and stent requirements, making the system easier to adapt to various scenarios.
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
Enables precise and efficient stent placement and widening in branching vessels by allowing independent control of balloon inflation, facilitating a gradual and adaptive expansion that matches the stent configuration in the main branch, improving the adaptation to side branches and reducing the complexity of multiple balloon systems.
Implementation Method 1
separate supply lines in the catheter to the first and second balloon, which allow the balloons to be pressurized independently of each other
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a balloon catheter, in particular for the widening of stents in fenestrations, being provided with a first inner balloon (4), a second outer balloon (5), with said second balloon (5) completely enclosing the first balloon (4), separate supply lines in the catheter (2) leading to the first (4) and second balloon (5), which allow the balloons (4, 5) to be pressurized independently of one another, a central lumen (3) for a guidewire, wherein in the expanded state, both balloons (4, 5) in the proximal region (P) have a diameter which is enlarged in relation to that of the distal region (D).