Nested Urethral Implant Delivery for Precise Atraumatic Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in developing a minimally-invasive and atraumatic system for delivering implants into the prostatic urethra, which is complex due to its tortuous anatomy and patient-to-patient variability, making accurate and consistent placement difficult.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system comprising a delivery device with multiple tubular components and a proximal control device, allowing for the deployment of self-expanding implants with atraumatic configurations, steerable mechanisms, and anchoring systems to navigate and secure the implant within the urethra, enabling precise placement and minimally-invasive deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a minimally-invasive delivery system is used to navigate tortuous urethral anatomy, then tissue trauma is reduced, but implant placement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is divided into multiple nested tubular components (outer tube, intermediate tube, inner tube) that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the system to maintain flexibility for navigating tortuous anatomy while providing controlled deployment stages that ensure precise implant placement in the prostatic urethra.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning actions by advancing the delivery device to the target site before implant deployment. The proximal control device allows operators to prepare and position the implant accurately within the prostatic urethra before releasing it, ensuring precise placement even through tortuous pathways.
2Ease of operation
If the delivery system is made flexible to navigate tortuous bends, then ease of navigation improves, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system employs dynamic flexibility where the tubular components can bend and flex to navigate tortuous urethral anatomy, yet maintain structural integrity through their nested configuration. The system transitions from a rigid state during deployment to a flexible state during navigation, and back to stable for precise implant release.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple tubular components are nested within each other (outer tube containing intermediate tube containing inner tube), creating a telescoping structure that provides both flexibility for navigation and structural stability for controlled implant deployment while navigating tortuous bends.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple tubular components are used to control implant deployment, then placement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested tubular components serve multiple functions: they provide structural support, enable flexible navigation through tortuous anatomy, control implant deployment timing, and allow proximal manipulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, managing overall device complexity while maintaining high placement accuracy.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the system allows adjustable positioning and retrieval, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows preliminary positioning adjustments before final implant release. The nested tubular structure enables operators to adjust the implant position within the prostatic urethra before deployment, and the retrieval mechanism allows recovery if positioning is incorrect, providing adaptability through controlled sequential actions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices, and methods are provided for the delivery of an implant into the prostatic urethra. Embodiments of delivery systems can include a delivery device for insertion into the patient and a proximal control device for use in controlling release of the implant from the delivery device.