Reverse Deploy Stent Delivery System Proximal Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stent delivery systems face challenges in accurately positioning the trailing end of the stent due to stent foreshortening and variability in vessel diameter, leading to suboptimal placement and potential blockage of major side branches or incomplete coverage of the treatment zone.

Innovation Solution

A stent delivery system that deploys the stent from its proximal end towards its distal end, using a coaxial design with an outer stent cover that is advanced distally to expose and expand the stent radially from the proximal end to the distal end, allowing for precise placement of the proximal end and minimizing the risk of jailing major tributaries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a conventional stent delivery system deploys the stent from distal to proximal end, then the leading end placement can be controlled, but the trailing end placement accuracy is compromised due to stent foreshortening and vessel diameter variability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrailing end placement accuracyVSAvoiddelivery system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional deployment direction by deploying the stent from proximal to distal end instead of distal to proximal. This is achieved by positioning the sheath at the proximal end and advancing it distally, allowing the stent to expand in the opposite direction of conventional systems. This inversion enables accurate control of trailing end placement while maintaining delivery system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary positioning of the proximal end of the stent before full deployment. The sheath is positioned and secured at the desired proximal location first, then the stent is deployed distally from that fixed point. This preliminary action ensures accurate trailing end placement while allowing the rest of the stent to expand along the vessel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the stent is deployed conventionally without preliminary positioning, then deployment is simpler, but accurate placement of the proximal end cannot be achieved to prevent jailing of major side branches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproximal end placement accuracyVSAvoiddeployment procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary positioning of the proximal end of the stent before full deployment. The sheath is positioned and secured at the desired proximal location first, then the stent is deployed distally from that fixed point. This preliminary action ensures accurate trailing end placement while allowing the rest of the stent to expand along the vessel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sheath acts as an intermediary device that enables precise proximal end placement. By serving as a temporary constraint and positioning mechanism, the sheath allows the physician to accurately position the proximal end of the stent before deployment, preventing jailing of major side branches while maintaining procedural feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the sheath is advanced distally to deploy the stent from proximal to distal end, then repositioning and precise deployment of the proximal end is enabled, but the delivery system requires a complex coaxial design with multiple shafts and hubs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestent placement accuracyVSAvoidcoaxial design structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery system employs a nested coaxial structure where an inner shaft is positioned within an outer shaft, and a sheath is advanced over the inner shaft. This nesting arrangement allows the sheath to be selectively advanced distally to deploy the stent while maintaining structural integrity and enabling repositioning capability, despite the increased structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery system is segmented into distinct functional components: an inner shaft for support, an outer shaft for structural framework, and a movable sheath for stent deployment control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling precise proximal to distal deployment while managing the overall system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3285700B1Systems for stent delivery
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC
  • EP3285700B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3285700B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3285700B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for stent deployment are provided. One system includes a delivery subsystem having a nose tip coupled with a sheath such that the nose tip and sheath are movable together, wherein the sheath is configured to receive therein a stent for deployment. The stent surrounds an inner shaft of the delivery subsystem. The system further includes an actuating subsystem configured to advance the sheath along the inner shaft from a proximal to distal direction to deliver the stent in a reverse deploy direction.