Occlusion Device Balloon Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vaso-occlusive devices for occluding blood vessels lack efficient mechanisms for controlled deployment and release within tortuous vascular pathways, particularly in narrow and complex anatomical sites, which can lead to incomplete occlusion or device retention issues.
Innovation Solution
A catheter assembly with a distal tip assembly featuring an inflatable balloon and a release mechanism, where the balloon is secured to the catheter by retaining members that flex outward upon inflation, allowing controlled detachment and deployment within the vessel, ensuring complete occlusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a vaso-occlusive device is delivered through tortuous vascular pathways, then the device can reach narrow and complex anatomical sites, but the device may become retained or fail to deploy completely
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate components: a delivery catheter and a distal tip assembly containing the occlusion device. This segmentation allows the catheter to be withdrawn independently after deploying the occlusion device at the target site, ensuring complete release while maintaining the ability to reach complex anatomical sites through the catheter's flexible design
Solution Approach 2:
The distal tip assembly incorporates an inflatable balloon that transitions from a deflated to an inflated state during deployment. This dynamic expansion provides controlled release of the occlusion device from the catheter at the target site, ensuring reliable deployment while maintaining flexibility for navigation through tortuous pathways
2Stability of the object's composition
If the balloon is secured tightly to the catheter for stable delivery, then deployment control is improved, but the balloon cannot be released for occlusion
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining members are designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing them to dynamically adjust their engagement with the balloon. During delivery, the members maintain secure engagement; upon inflation, the members flex outward to release the balloon, providing both stable delivery and controlled detachment
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the retaining members changes in response to balloon inflation. As the balloon expands, the retaining members experience increased radial forces that cause them to flex outward and disengage from the balloon surface, enabling controlled release without requiring additional actuation mechanisms
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
The solution enables precise and reliable occlusion of blood vessels by ensuring the balloon expands to contact vessel walls, forming a fluid-tight seal and releasing from the catheter, facilitating complete occlusion and easy withdrawal.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable balloon disposed over and secured to the tubular member
Implementation Method 2
the retaining members can be configured such that upon expansion of the inflatable balloon, the retaining members are flexed outward and away from the main catheter body
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter includes a detachable tip assembly that when detached from the catheter may be used to occlude a body lumen or vessel. The detachable distal tip assembly may include an inflatable balloon disposed over and secured to a tubular member. The inflatable balloon may be in fluid communication within an inflation lumen extending within the catheter body. Upon reaching a target site within a body lumen or vessel, the detachable distal tip assembly may be released from the distal end of the catheter upon inflation of the balloon to a predetermined size.