Endoluminal Support Structure with Swivel Joints for Repositionable Stents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoluminal stent deployment methods lack the ability to reposition or retrieve the stent after implantation, leading to potential malpositioning and complications such as paravalvular leakage and device migration, especially when used for cardiac valve support.
Innovation Solution
The development of an endoluminal support structure featuring a plurality of elongated strut members interconnected by swivel joints, allowing for adjustable expansion and compression, and enabling the stent to be repositioned or retrieved within the body lumen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a compressed stent is enclosed by a removable sheath for closed procedure implantation, then the stent can be delivered through a body lumen to its desired location, but if there is a misplacement of the stent, the process cannot be reversed to reposition the stent
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is designed with dynamic expandability, allowing it to transition between compressed and expanded states. The expandable stent can be compressed for delivery through the sheath and then expanded at the target site. Crucially, the stent can be re-compressed and re-positioned before final deployment, providing reversibility and adaptability during the procedure.
2Ease of operation
If an expandable stent encloses an inflatable balloon for balloon catheterization implantation, then the stent can be expanded at the implant site, but the actual positioning of the stent cannot be determined until after the balloon is deflated and misplacement cannot be reversed
Solution Approach 1:
The stent incorporates radiopaque markers or imaging features that allow the operator to visualize and confirm stent positioning before balloon inflation and expansion. This preliminary positioning verification enables detection and correction of malpositioning before the stent is permanently deployed, preventing irreversible errors.
3Ease of manufacture
If a stent is used to support a cardiac valve, then the valve can be implanted in the body, but malpositioning results in serious complications such as paravalvular leakage, device migration, and coronary artery obstruction that cannot be reversed
Solution Approach 1:
The stent-supported valve assembly is designed with dynamic expandability, allowing the operator to compress the stent for delivery, position it at the target site, verify positioning using imaging markers, and then expand it to its final configuration. This dynamic design provides multiple opportunities to correct positioning errors before final deployment, significantly improving reliability and preventing irreversible complications.
Data Source
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AI summary
An endo luminal support structure includes strut members interconnected by swivel joints to form a series of linked scissor mechanisms. The structure can be remotely actuated to compress or expand its shape by adjusting the scissor joints within a range of motion. In particular, the support structure can be repositioned within the body lumen or retrieved from the lumen. The support structure can be employed to introduce and support a prosthetic valve within a body lumen.