Polymeric Stent V-Cell Segmentation for Strength and Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional polymeric stents face challenges with mechanical strength, flexibility, and compatibility within blood vessels, often causing distortion and potential hematoma due to unconnected corners or ends, which can impede blood flow.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric stent design featuring a repeating unit with a V-letter shaped cell structure, including inward and outward hinge portions and linker portions, connected in a specific pattern to enhance mechanical strength and flexibility, while avoiding unconnected corners that could interfere with blood flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional polymeric stents are designed with thicker struts to improve mechanical strength, then the mechanical strength increases, but the flexibility decreases and handling becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The stent structure is divided into repeating units with specific hinge portions and linker portions, creating a modular design that optimizes both strength and flexibility through the arrangement of these segments
Solution Approach 2:
The stent incorporates hinge portions that can bend and rotate, allowing the structure to dynamically adapt during expansion and implantation, improving both mechanical performance and handling characteristics
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymeric stents use simple geometric patterns, then manufacturing is easier, but the patterns become entangled during expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into repeating units with distinct hinge portions and linker portions, where each segment has a specific function that prevents entanglement while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through repetition
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge portions are designed with specific curvature radii (e.g., 0.5-2.0 mm for first hinge, 1.0-3.0 mm for second hinge) that allow smooth bending and expansion without creating sharp corners that could cause entanglement
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional stents have unconnected corners or ends in the structure, then the structure is simpler to manufacture, but hematoma and blood flow impedement occur
Solution Approach 1:
The linker portions connect the hinge portions in a continuous manner, merging what would otherwise be separate or unconnected elements, thereby eliminating gaps that could cause hematoma while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the repeating unit design
4Strength
If conventional polymeric stents use thicker struts to prevent distortion, then mechanical strength improves, but the stent becomes less flexible and harder to insert
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is segmented into repeating units with hinge portions that provide localized flexibility, allowing the overall structure to maintain strength while adapting to vessel geometry during insertion
Solution Approach 2:
The stent utilizes thin strut designs (e.g., 0.1-0.5 mm thickness) combined with hinge portions that act as flexible joints, enabling the structure to bend and conform to vessel shapes without requiring thick struts
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(a)~4(b)
Figure 5(a)~5(b)
AI summary
The present invention relates to a polymeric stent, and to an endoprosthesis that is implanted within blood vessels and is formed of a polymer.