Plaque Tack Device for Vascular Stenosis Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current stent technologies for treating atherosclerotic occlusive disease face issues such as recurrent stenosis, stent fracture, and excessive material usage, leading to inadequate long-term success and increased risk of complications like restenosis and stent fracture, particularly in mobile arteries like the lower extremity and carotid arteries.
Innovation Solution
The development of a catheter-based endoluminal staple or plaque tack device with a self-expanding design that applies controlled expansion forces to hold loose plaque against the vessel wall, minimizing material usage and avoiding the need for stent placement by using a device with a low slope force curve and focal elevating elements to reduce vascular reaction and improve patency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stents are placed to hold open the artery after angioplasty, then acute occlusion is prevented and blood flow is maintained, but recurrent stenosis and stent fracture occur leading to inadequate long-term success
Solution Approach 1:
The plaque tack device segments the continuous stent structure into discrete, focal tack elements spaced along the vessel. Each tack independently secures plaque at specific locations without requiring a continuous metallic scaffold, thereby preventing restenosis at untreated segments and eliminating stent fracture risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential function of plaque securing from the stent structure. Instead of using a complete stent framework, individual tacks are deployed to tack down dissected plaque flaps at critical locations, removing the harmful scaffolding effect while maintaining the beneficial plaque stabilization.
2Productivity
If traditional stents are used to treat atherosclerotic plaque, then blood flow is restored, but excessive material usage leads to increased vascular reaction and complications
Solution Approach 1:
The plaque tack device applies partial action by using only the minimum necessary material (individual tacks rather than complete stents) to achieve the therapeutic goal. The tacks are deployed only at specific locations where plaque dissection or protrusion occurs, minimizing foreign material contact while maintaining adequate blood flow restoration.
3Reliability
If stents are placed in mobile arteries like lower extremity and carotid arteries, then acute occlusion is prevented, but stent fracture risk increases due to arterial mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the arterial support function into discrete, mobile-friendly tack elements. Each tack is independently anchored to the vessel wall and plaque, allowing the arterial segment to move naturally without imposing stress on a continuous rigid stent structure, thereby preventing fracture in mobile arteries.
4Productivity
If balloon angioplasty is performed to open blocked vessels, then blood flow is improved, but dissection occurs causing plaque to lift away from the artery wall
Solution Approach 1:
The plaque tack device performs preliminary action by securing the dissected plaque flap to the vessel wall immediately after angioplasty. The tacks are deployed while the plaque is still mobile, preventing further dissection propagation and stabilizing the plaque-vessel wall interface before the patient leaves the procedure room.
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 plaque tack device effectively maintains blood flow without the drawbacks of traditional stents, reducing recurrent stenosis and stent fracture risks by minimizing foreign material contact and allowing the artery to retain natural flexibility, thus enhancing long-term vascular patency and reducing complications.
Implementation Method 1
The plaque tack device can be radially self expandable or balloon expandable
Data Source
AI summary
A plaque tack can be used for holding plaque against blood vessel walls such as in treating atherosclerotic occlusive disease. The plaque tack can be formed as a thin, annular band for holding loose plaque under a spring or other expansion force against a blood vessel wall. Focal elevating elements and/or other features, such as anchors, can be used to exert a holding force on a plaque position while minimizing the amount of material surface area in contact with the plaque or blood vessel wall and reducing the potential of friction with the endoluminal surface. This approach offers clinicians the ability to perform a minimally invasive post-angioplasty treatment and produce a stent-like result without using a stent.