Segmented Vascular Bypass Device for Minimally Invasive Flow Diversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical methods for coronary heart disease, such as coronary bypass surgery, are invasive and pose significant risks and trauma, making them unsuitable for certain patients, while minimally invasive techniques like balloon angioplasty may not be effective for severe occlusions.

Innovation Solution

A device with a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion is deployed between two passages, such as an artery and a vein, allowing the device to expand against the passage walls to create a bypass for fluid flow, using a combination of self-expansion and balloon expansion to anchor and dilate the passages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional coronary bypass surgery is performed, then effective treatment for severe occlusion is achieved, but surgical trauma and risk are significantly increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidsurgical trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into three distinct segments: a first end portion for anchoring in the first passage, a second end portion for anchoring in the second passage, and an intermediate portion connecting them. This segmentation allows the device to be inserted through a minimally invasive approach while still providing effective bypass functionality, thereby reducing surgical trauma while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate portion acts as an intermediary element that connects the first end portion and the second end portion, allowing fluid flow between the two passages. This intermediary structure enables the device to function as a bypass without requiring open-heart surgery, thus reducing surgical trauma while ensuring effective treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If balloon angioplasty is used, then minimally invasive treatment is achieved, but effectiveness for severe occlusion is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical traumaVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device creates a new spatial dimension for fluid flow by establishing a bypass pathway between two separate passages (artery and vein). This dimensional approach allows fluid to flow around the occlusion rather than trying to clear it, providing effective treatment for severe occlusion while maintaining minimally invasive benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the device is made expandable to anchor against passage walls, then fluid flow maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow maintenanceVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates expandable end portions that can dynamically change their configuration from a compressed delivery state to an expanded anchored state. This dynamic capability allows the device to effectively anchor against the passage walls to maintain fluid flow, while the ability to compress for delivery keeps the overall device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The expandable end portions utilize parameter changes (specifically dimensional changes from compressed to expanded state) to achieve effective anchoring. This allows the device to maintain fluid flow reliably while the parameter change capability is integrated into a relatively simple expandable structure rather than a complex mechanical anchoring system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This method enables minimally invasive creation of a bypass, reducing surgical trauma and risk, and effectively maintains fluid flow through occluded blood vessels, suitable for patients unsuitable for conventional surgery.

Implementation Method 1

using a combination of self-expansion and balloon expansion to anchor and dilate the passages

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelf-expansion: Elastic Recovery

Implementation Method 2

using a combination of self-expansion and balloon expansion to anchor and dilate the passages

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBalloon expansion: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11241304B2Method for fluid flow through body passages

Publication Date: 2022.02.08 INARI MEDICAL INC

AI summary

A device includes a first end portion, a second end portion, an intermediate portion between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a graft material coupled to at least the intermediate portion. The first end portion has a first end diameter. The second end portion has a second end diameter larger than the first end diameter. The intermediate portion tapers between the first end portion and the second end portion. A method of diverting fluid flow from a first passage to a second passage comprising deploying the device in a third passage between the first passage and the second passage, expanding the first end portion against sidewalls of the first passage, and expanding the second end portion against sidewalls of the second passage.