Retrievable Helical Stent for Vessel Stricture Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stents used for treating stenosis in body vessels are typically permanent, making it difficult to remove them once the condition has resolved, which can lead to unnecessary long-term presence in the patient.
Innovation Solution
An expandable and retrievable device with a helically formed expandable member that can be collapsed for delivery and expanded for treatment, allowing for self-expansion and self-contraction to facilitate easy deployment and retrieval, utilizing materials like shape memory alloys or polymers for enhanced flexibility and conformability to tortuous vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a permanent stent is used to treat stenosis, then the stenotic lesion is effectively treated and vessel patency is maintained, but the device cannot be removed once deployed, leading to unnecessary long-term presence in the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is designed with dynamic properties allowing it to transition between expanded and contracted states. The helical structure enables the stent to be compressed into a low-profile delivery configuration and then self-expand at the target site, and subsequently be re-compressed for retrieval if needed
Solution Approach 2:
The stent utilizes shape memory alloys or elastic materials that change their physical parameters (shape, size, stiffness) in response to environmental conditions such as temperature or mechanical stress, enabling transformation between deployed and retrievable states
2Reliability
If a stent with large cross-sectional profile is used to effectively treat stenosis, then the vessel is adequately supported, but the device cannot access tortuous vessel paths
Solution Approach 1:
The stent employs a dynamic helical structure that can be compressed into a compact, flexible configuration for navigation through tortuous vessels, then self-expands at the target site to provide adequate vessel support
Solution Approach 2:
The helical/curved structure of the stent allows it to conform to and navigate tortuous vessel paths while maintaining structural integrity, enabling access to difficult-to-reach stenotic lesions
3Ease of operation
If a retrievable stent design is implemented, then the device can be removed after treatment, but the cross-sectional profile may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into multiple helical segments or struts that can independently compress and expand, allowing the structure to maintain its radial strength when expanded while being compressible for retrieval
Solution Approach 2:
The stent utilizes composite material structures combining materials with different mechanical properties to achieve both high radial strength for vessel support and sufficient compressibility for retrieval
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
Enables effective treatment of stenotic lesions with the ability to be easily removed after treatment, maintaining vessel access and reducing long-term vascular obstruction risks.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing materials like shape memory alloys or polymers for enhanced flexibility and conformability to tortuous vessels
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable and retrievable device for treatment of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a tubular portion including a proximal end and a distal end extending from the proximal end. The tubular portion has a lumen formed therethrough between the proximal and distal ends. The device further comprises an expandable member formed helically about the tubular portion. The expandable member is configured to helically close, defining a collapsed state for delivery of the device. The expandable member is configured to helically open, defining an expanded state for treatment of the stenotic lesion in the body vessel. The expandable member has at least one filter portion that helically extends from the tubular portion at a predetermined angle. This defines a proximally faced opening when the expandable member is in the expanded state.