Oblique Stent Bifurcation Coverage Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stents fail to adequately cover bifurcations in blood vessels, leading to protrusion issues and potential complications such as metal overlap, collision, and increased thrombosis risk, especially when treating lesions near vessel branching points.

Innovation Solution

A tubular stent design with at least one oblique end that, upon expansion, is configured at an angle to a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, providing improved coverage and radial stability at bifurcations by incorporating truncated oblique ends and distinct strut configurations to prevent protrusion into adjacent branches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional stents are used to treat bifurcations, then the stent can be easily manufactured and implanted, but the stent fails to adequately cover the bifurcation anatomy, leading to protrusion into adjacent branches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestent coverage accuracy at bifurcationVSAvoidstent geometric configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stent employs asymmetric end configurations where at least one end is cut at an oblique angle rather than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. This asymmetric geometry allows the stent to conform to the natural oblique orientation of vessel bifurcations, improving coverage accuracy without requiring complex multi-component assemblies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces oblique cutting planes that create three-dimensional geometric variation at the stent ends. By changing the dimensional orientation of the end surfaces from perpendicular to oblique angles, the stent can better match the spatial configuration of bifurcation ostia, achieving precise anatomical coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple stents or protruding stent portions are used to cover bifurcations, then coverage can be achieved, but metal overlap and collision occur, increasing thrombosis risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedural success and thrombosis preventionVSAvoidmetal overlap and collision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stent features localized oblique end sections that are specifically designed to engage with the bifurcation ostium. This local geometric modification concentrates the coverage function at the critical bifurcation region while maintaining standard stent geometry in other areas, preventing unwanted metal overlap in adjacent vessel segments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The oblique end configuration is pre-formed during stent manufacturing to anticipate the bifurcation anatomy. This preliminary geometric preparation ensures that upon deployment, the stent naturally aligns with and covers the ostium without requiring post-implantation adjustment or creating protrusions that could cause metal collision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If flared ends are used to increase ostial opening diameter, then bifurcation coverage is improved, but stent assembly complexity increases requiring dual balloon systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveostial opening coverageVSAvoiddelivery system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than using symmetric flared ends that require complex dual-balloon systems for deployment, the invention employs asymmetric oblique cutting. This asymmetric geometry achieves effective ostial coverage through angular orientation alone, simplifying the delivery system to a single-balloon configuration while maintaining precise anatomical coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP2967936B1Oblique stent
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 CURAVAS GMBH
  • EP2967936B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2967936B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2967936B1 patent drawingFigure 2D~2C

AI summary

A stent having a main body with a proximal end and a distal end section having proximal and distal openings used for treatment of lesions in blood vessels and hollow organs, particularly at the ostium of side branches. The stent adapts to the anatomical configuration of a vessel branch by having at least one oblique end section in at least its expanded state. Truncated versions of the oblique end section are described as well.