Nested Catheter Stent Delivery for Bifurcated Vessels

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Solution Overview

Problem

The placement of bifurcated stent grafts in acutely angled vasculature is complex, requiring multiple incisions and surgical steps, which increases patient trauma and procedural time.

Innovation Solution

An interventional delivery system comprising a first catheter with a side branch vessel segment and a second catheter with a main vessel segment, along with a bifurcated guidewire, allows simultaneous delivery and deployment of the stent graft into acutely angled vasculature, reducing the number and size of incisions and simplifying the surgical procedure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional methods are used to place bifurcated stent grafts in acutely angled vasculature, then the stent graft can be deployed, but the procedure requires multiple incisions and complex surgical steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuccessful deployment of bifurcated stent graftVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery system employs nested catheters where a first catheter is positioned within a second catheter. The first catheter delivers the side branch vessel segment while the second catheter delivers the main vessel segment. This nested configuration allows both catheters to be introduced through a single access incision, eliminating the need for multiple incisions and simplifying the surgical procedure while maintaining reliable stent graft deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If conventional methods are used to place bifurcated stent grafts, then the stent graft can be deployed, but the number of incisions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuccessful deployment of bifurcated stent graftVSAvoidpatient trauma from multiple incisions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the delivery pathways for both the main vessel segment and side branch vessel segment into a single access incision. By combining the functions of two separate catheter introductions into one unified delivery system, the procedure reduces the number of incisions from multiple to one, thereby reducing patient trauma while ensuring reliable deployment of the bifurcated stent graft.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If conventional methods are used to access acutely angled side branches, then the stent graft can be placed, but the surgical time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccurate placement in acutely angled vasculatureVSAvoidsurgical procedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery system is pre-configured with the first catheter and second catheter in a nested arrangement before insertion. The bifurcated guidewire with opposing distal tips is pre-positioned to facilitate navigation into acutely angled side branches. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex intra-procedural maneuvers and reduces surgical time while maintaining accurate placement in challenging acutely angled vasculature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8864812B2Branched stent delivery system

Publication Date: 2014.10.21 WL GORE & ASSOC INC

AI summary

An interventional delivery system with a first catheter having at its distal end a side branch vessel segment; a second catheter attached around the first catheter and having at its distal end a main vessel segment; a side branch vessel device attached to side branch vessel segment of the first catheter; and main vessel device attached to the main vessel segment of the second catheter. The main vessel device and the side branch vessel device are able to be simultaneously delivered to a treatment site.