Retrievable Ductus Arteriosus Stent for Atraumatic Removal

Solution Overview

Problem

Current vascular stents used to keep the ductus arteriosus open in pediatric patients are difficult to remove without causing vascular trauma due to extensive metal incorporation into the vessel wall, making them unsuitable for long-term use.

Innovation Solution

A retrievable stent with curved strut ends and elongated body portions that engage the ductus arteriosus to maintain patency while minimizing vascular wall contact, allowing for atraumatic removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional vascular stents are used to keep the ductus arteriosus open, then the ductus arteriosus remains patent, but the stents become incorporated into the vascular tissue and are difficult to remove causing vascular trauma

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveductus arteriosus patencyVSAvoidvascular trauma during removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is divided into distinct segments: curved proximal strut ends, elongated parallel strut body portions, and curved distal strut ends. This segmentation allows different portions to serve different functions - the curved ends engage the ductus arteriosus walls to maintain patency while the elongated parallel body portions minimize tissue contact and engagement, enabling atraumatic removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the stent have different geometric properties tailored to their specific functions. The curved proximal and distal strut ends provide strong radial engagement with the ductus arteriosus walls to maintain patency, while the elongated parallel strut body portions have minimal engagement with the vascular wall to prevent incorporation and facilitate easy removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If stents are designed with high radial force to maintain ductus arteriosus patency, then the ductus arteriosus remains open, but the stent becomes more firmly incorporated into the vascular wall making removal difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveductus arteriosus patencyVSAvoidstent removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is divided into distinct segments: curved proximal strut ends, elongated parallel strut body portions, and curved distal strut ends. This segmentation allows different portions to serve different functions - the curved ends engage the ductus arteriosus walls to maintain patency while the elongated parallel body portions minimize tissue contact and engagement, enabling atraumatic removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the stent have different geometric properties tailored to their specific functions. The curved proximal and distal strut ends provide strong radial engagement with the ductus arteriosus walls to maintain patency, while the elongated parallel strut body portions have minimal engagement with the vascular wall to prevent incorporation and facilitate easy removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 stent effectively keeps the ductus arteriosus open for up to 360 days with minimal vascular injury, facilitating easy retrieval and reducing the risk of complications.

Implementation Method 1

the curved proximal strut ends and the curved distal strut ends engage the ductus arteriosus to provide the radial force necessary to keep the ductus arteriosus open

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadial force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

the elongated strut body portions of each of the 4 to 8 struts minimally engage the ductus arteriosus to prevent invagination into the vascular wall of the ductus arteriosus and thus allow for subsequent retrieval

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMinimal engagement: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3952787B1Patent ductus arteriosus stent

Publication Date: 2026.03.11 VANDERBILT UNIV

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AI summary

A retrievable stent configured to be positioned across the ductus arteriosus in a pediatric human patient to keep the ductus arteriosus open and ensure adequate blood flow is described. The retrievable stent can include a plurality of 4 to 8 struts that extend from a proximal end connector to a distal end tip, each having a curved proximal strut end, a curved distal strut end and an elongated strut body portion that extends from the curved proximal strut end to the curved distal strut end. When the stent is positioned in the ductus arteriosus, the curved proximal strut ends and the curved distal strut ends engage the ductus arteriosus to provide the radial force necessary to keep the ductus arteriosus open while the elongated strut body portions minimally engage the ductus arteriosus to prevent invagination into the vascular wall and thus allow for subsequent retrieval.