Push-Pull Medical Device Delivery System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multiple access site delivery systems for implantable medical devices face challenges in accurately and efficiently deploying endoluminal devices and endovascular tools due to limitations in catheter rigidity and flexibility, which can lead to buckling or difficulty navigating tortuous vasculature.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system utilizing multiple percutaneous access sites with elongated catheters and a guidewire that allows push-pull positioning of expandable devices, where the catheters are releasably coupled at leading ends to facilitate axial and rotational control, and the use of constraining sleeves for radial expansion, enabling precise deployment of devices like stent grafts in vascular treatment sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the catheter is made rigid to enable pushing through single access point and maintain axial/rotational control, then control capability is improved, but the catheter cannot traverse tortuous vasculature
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system is divided into multiple segments or catheters that can be inserted through separate access sites. Each catheter segment can be optimized for specific functions (rigidity for control, flexibility for navigation), and they work together as an integrated system to achieve both control and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from single-access-point linear control to multi-access-point three-dimensional control. By introducing additional access sites, the system gains extra degrees of freedom for positioning and controlling the implantable device, allowing simultaneous achievement of rigidity-based control and flexibility-based navigation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple access sites and catheters are used to deliver multiple devices and tools, then procedural capability is improved, but delivery accuracy and efficiency are reduced due to buckling and control difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple catheters accessing through different sites are merged into a coordinated system with integrated control mechanisms. The leading ends of catheters are coupled together, allowing unified manipulation and positioning while maintaining the benefits of multiple access routes for delivering various devices and tools.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling mechanism or intermediary structure is introduced at the leading ends of multiple catheters to coordinate their actions. This intermediary allows the multiple catheters to work together as a unified system, improving delivery accuracy by preventing buckling while maintaining the versatility of multiple access sites.
3Adaptability or versatility
If catheters are made flexible to traverse tortuous vasculature, then navigability is improved, but axial and rotational control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter system is segmented into multiple catheters where each can be optimized for flexibility to navigate tortuous anatomy, while the combined system at the leading ends provides the necessary control through coupling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Control is achieved by adding dimensional complexity - using multiple access sites and coupling catheter leading ends creates a multi-dimensional control system that compensates for the flexibility of individual catheter segments.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A system for delivery of a medical device includes a delivery member (206) and a medical device (500), which is mounted to the delivery member and releasably retained in a delivery configuration for endoluminal delivery of the medical device toward a treatment site in a human vessel. The delivery member includes an elongated first portion (205) configured to extend outside of the body from a first percutaneous access site (102) and an elongated second portion (207) configured to extend outside the body from a second percutaneous access site (104) to allow positioning of the medical device at the treatment site by manipulation of the first portion and second portion from outside of the body.