Rail Anchor System for Stable TIPS Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current TIPS procedures face challenges in maintaining access to the hepatic vein and performing repeated portal venography due to the instability of the 10 French sheath in the hepatic vein, requiring repeated attempts and lack of visualization for accurate portal vein entry.
Innovation Solution
A rail and/or anchor system utilizing a balloon catheter or stiff shaft with hooks to anchor the sheath and needle, allowing for stable access and repeated venography by inflating or deflating the balloon for anchoring and unanchoring, and using hooks for secure tissue attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a 10 French sheath is placed into the hepatic vein, then access to the hepatic vein is obtained, but the sheath falls out of the hepatic vein requiring repeated attempts
Solution Approach 1:
An anchor is deployed in advance within the hepatic vein to secure the sheath before the puncture procedure begins. The anchor is positioned and secured first, then the sheath is advanced over the anchor into the hepatic vein, ensuring stable access is established before the difficult puncture step.
Solution Approach 2:
An anchor acts as an intermediary element between the sheath and the hepatic vein wall. The anchor embeds into the vein wall to provide secure attachment, while the sheath attaches to the anchor, creating a stable three-component system that prevents sheath dislodgement during the procedure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a 10 French sheath is used for TIPS procedure, then the procedure can be performed, but repeated portal venography cannot be performed through the same sheath
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional components: the anchor remains permanently secured in the hepatic vein, while the sheath can be independently advanced and retracted over the anchor. This segmentation allows the sheath to be removed and repositioned for repeated portal venography attempts without disturbing the anchor or requiring re-access of the hepatic vein.
3Measurement precision
If blind aiming is performed to enter the portal vein, then the procedure can be attempted, but accurate targeting is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor serves as a stable intermediary reference point within the hepatic vein. By securing the anchor first, the operator establishes a fixed reference that facilitates accurate positioning and aiming for portal vein puncture. The anchor's stable position allows for more precise targeting compared to attempting puncture without a secured reference point.
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 system maintains consistent access to the hepatic vein, enabling precise targeting and repeated portal venography without the sheath falling out, simplifying the TIPS procedure and improving the accuracy of portal vein entry.
Implementation Method 1
a balloon of the anchor line is configured to selectively anchor the anchor line to surrounding tissue by the balloon being inflated, and unanchor the anchor line to surrounding tissue by the balloon being deflated
Implementation Method 2
a rail and/or anchor line or stiff shaft configured for being anchored to surrounding tissue and/or stiff enough configured to guide the displacement of at least one of a needle and an outer sheath
Implementation Method 3
the rail and/or anchor line is a balloon catheter configured for measuring pressure at a tip of the balloon catheter while the balloon is inflated
Implementation Method 4
the rail and/or anchor line is a balloon catheter configured for executing wedge venography by discharging a gas or contrast through the balloon catheter while a balloon of the balloon catheter is inflated
Implementation Method 5
the rail and/or anchor line includes one or more hooks for anchoring the anchor line to surrounding tissue
Data Source
AI summary
A rail and/or anchor system and method for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedures. The system includes a rail line that is anchorable to surrounding tissue and used as a rail to guide the displacement of at least one needle and an outer sheath. The rail line may include an inflatable balloon that is configured to selectively anchor the anchor line to surrounding tissue by the balloon being inflated and unanchor the anchor line to surrounding tissue by the balloon being deflated. The rail line is stiff. The rail line includes a lumen and is configured for executing wedge venography, and for measuring pressure at a tip of the rail line while a balloon of the balloon catheter is inflated. The anchor line may include one or more hooks for anchoring the anchor line to surrounding tissue. The one or more hooks may be selectively advanceable and retractable.