Segmented Embolic Delivery Conduit Navigating Tortuous Vasculature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current embolic material delivery devices face challenges in navigating tortuous neurovascular anatomy due to stiffness, which limits their ability to withstand high pressures and prevent kinking, affecting the flow of high-viscosity embolic materials to aneurysms.
Innovation Solution
The device features a conduit body with distinct flexibility zones, transitioning from a stiffer proximal portion for pressure resistance to a more flexible distal portion for navigating tortuous anatomy, and an expandable structure to reduce embolic material leakage, allowing for efficient delivery of liquid embolic materials to aneurysms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the conduit body is made stiffer to withstand high pressures and prevent kinking, then pressure resistance and kink prevention are improved, but the ability to navigate tortuous neurovascular anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit body is divided into multiple zones with different flexibility characteristics: a first flexibility zone with a first kink radius, a second flexibility zone with a second kink radius smaller than the first, and a transition zone between them. This segmentation allows different portions of the conduit to perform different functions - the proximal portion resists kinking under pressure while the distal portion navigates tortuous vasculature
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the conduit body are赋予 different local properties: the first flexibility zone has higher stiffness and larger kink radius for pressure resistance, while the second flexibility zone has lower stiffness and smaller kink radius for navigation. The transition zone gradually changes these properties to avoid abrupt transitions
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conduit body is made more flexible to navigate tortuous anatomy, then navigability is improved, but the ability to withstand high pressures and prevent kinking deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is segmented into zones with progressively changing flexibility. The first flexibility zone maintains stiffness for pressure resistance, while the second flexibility zone increases flexibility for navigation, with a transition zone that gradually changes properties to avoid stress concentrations
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit body dynamically adapts its mechanical properties along its length, transitioning from a stiffer proximal portion to a more flexible distal portion. This dynamic variation in flexibility allows the conduit to maintain structural integrity where needed while adapting to tortuous anatomy where required
3Ease of manufacture
If a single kink radius is used throughout the conduit body, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the ability to simultaneously withstand pressure and navigate tortuous anatomy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single uniform kink radius, the conduit is designed with multiple zones having different kink radii. The first zone has a larger kink radius for pressure resistance, while the second zone has a smaller kink radius for navigation, with a transition zone connecting them
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit incorporates local variations in kink radius along its length, with each zone optimized for its specific function. This local differentiation of geometric properties enables the conduit to perform multiple functions simultaneously
Data Source
AI summary
A device for treating an intracranial aneurysm in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology includes an elongate conduit body defining an axial lumen through which the conduit body is configured to convey liquid embolic material toward the aneurysm. The conduit body includes a first flexibility zone defining a first average bending stiffness and a first outer diameter. The conduit body further includes a second flexibility zone distal to the first flexibility zone and defining a second average bending stiffness and a second outer diameter. The second average bending stiffness and the second outer diameter are less than the first average bending stiffness and the first outer diameter, respectively. The conduit body also includes a transition zone between the first and second flexibility zones. The transition zone defines a third outer diameter that transitions proximally-to-distally from the first outer diameter to the second outer diameter.