Neurovascular Flow Diverter Delivery for Tortuous Vessel Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complex nature of neural vasculature, including small diameter and tortuous anatomy, makes treatments for cerebral aneurysms difficult, posing risks from subarachnoid hemorrhage and necessitating improved treatment systems.
Innovation Solution
A system for delivering a flow diverter to a neurovascular blood vessel using an introducer sheath, catheter, and core wire with deployment features such as pushers, friction bumps, coils, and self-expanding elements to facilitate controlled deployment and expansion of the flow diverter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow diverter is deployed in neurovascular blood vessels with small diameter and tortuous anatomy, then the treatment effectiveness for cerebral aneurysms is improved, but the difficulty of delivery and deployment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is divided into multiple functional segments including a catheter for navigation, a core wire for support, a pusher for deployment force, and friction bumps for control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to solve the delivery challenge in tortuous vasculature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic elements including a tapered core wire that provides flexible support, a self-expanding flow diverter that transitions from compressed to expanded state, and controllable deployment features that engage and disengage during the procedure. These dynamic characteristics enable navigation through tortuous anatomy and controlled deployment at the target site.
2Ease of operation
If deployment features such as pushers and friction bumps are used to control flow diverter deployment, then control and flexibility during deployment is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple deployment features (pusher, friction bumps, core wire) are merged into a single integrated delivery system that operates through one catheter. The pusher and friction bumps work together synergistically - the pusher provides the primary deployment force while the friction bumps provide controlled engagement and retention, eliminating the need for separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction bumps are designed to automatically engage with the flow diverter during deployment and provide self-regulating control. As the pusher advances the flow diverter, the friction bumps naturally engage when the diverter contacts the catheter wall and disengage when the diverter is fully deployed, providing self-service control without requiring additional actuation mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If multiple friction bumps are spread along the core wire, then control of flow diverter movement is increased, but the length of deployment features increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction bumps are strategically positioned at specific locations along the core wire where they are most needed for control. The distal friction bump provides control during the critical phase when the flow diverter is exiting the catheter, while the proximal friction bump provides control during retraction. This localized placement provides maximum control with minimum length.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than distributing friction bumps uniformly along the entire length of the core wire, the invention uses a limited number of friction bumps placed at critical positions. This partial action approach provides sufficient control for the specific tasks of deployment and retraction without the excessive length that would result from uniform distribution.
4Reliability
If the flow diverter is fully deployed to ensure proper placement and expansion, then patient safety is improved by minimizing complications, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction bumps are pre-positioned on the core wire to automatically engage with the flow diverter during deployment. This preliminary positioning ensures that as soon as the flow diverter is pushed against the catheter wall, the friction bumps provide immediate control, eliminating the need for additional adjustment steps and reducing the time required to achieve proper placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides mechanical feedback through the interaction between the friction bumps and the flow diverter. When the flow diverter is properly deployed and expanded against the vessel wall, the friction bumps naturally engage and provide resistance, giving the operator tactile and visual feedback that deployment is complete and correct, allowing for rapid confirmation of proper placement.
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
Enhances control and flexibility during deployment, reduces procedure time, and improves patient safety by ensuring proper placement and expansion of the flow diverter, minimizing complications like 'fish-mouthing' and endoleaks.
Implementation Method 1
The friction bumps can engage with the flow diverter when the flow diverter is contained within the introducer sheath or the catheter
Implementation Method 2
The pusher can be a pusher coil, and can have a distal end that abuttingly engages with a proximal end of the flow diverter
Implementation Method 3
as the flow diverter is deployed from the catheter, the flow diverter expands and disengages from the friction bumps
Data Source
AI summary
Neurovascular flow diverter and delivery systems, and methods of using the same are disclosed herein. The systems can include an introducer sheath, a catheter, a deployable flow diverter that can be contained in the introducer sheath or in the catheter, a core wire, and one or several deployment features coupled to the core wire and engaging the flow diverter. The deployment features can include one or more of a pusher, one or several friction bumps, one or several deployment coils, a claw mechanism, a self-expanding element, a supporting coil, a tip coil, and/or an atraumatic tip. One or more of the deployment features can be radiopaque.