Segmented Embolic Protection Mesh for Aortic Arch Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cerebral embolism is a complication of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology procedures due to dislodged embolic particles entering the bloodstream, posing risks of neuropsychological deficits, stroke, and death, and existing devices are inadequate in preventing such embolism during these procedures.
Innovation Solution
A self-expanding tubular mesh embolic protection device, either woven from wires or fibers or made from a flexible textile, is deployed in the aortic arch to prevent emboli from entering the brain, with features like undulations, two-layer mesh, and inflatable balloons to enhance filtration and compatibility with surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter device is placed in the aortic arch to prevent emboli, then cerebral embolism protection is improved, but interference with surgical procedures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aortic arch is divided into multiple segments with individual mesh panels covering each arch vessel ostium separately. This segmentation allows the device to provide comprehensive embolism protection across all vessels while maintaining minimal obstruction to surgical access, as each panel can be independently positioned to avoid interfering with surgical instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh panels are designed with varying densities and configurations tailored to specific anatomical locations within the aortic arch. Each panel's structure is optimized for its local requirements, providing effective filtration at vessel ostia while maintaining blood flow and minimizing interference with surgical procedures in different regions of the aortic arch.
2Reliability
If a mesh panel covers the aortic arch vessels to filter emboli, then embolic protection is improved, but blood flow restriction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs mesh panels constructed from porous materials with carefully engineered pore sizes and distributions. These porous structures effectively trap embolic particles while allowing adequate blood flow through the mesh, resolving the contradiction between filtration effectiveness and blood flow maintenance by optimizing the porosity characteristics of the mesh material.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh panels are designed with three-dimensional wave patterns and undulations that increase the surface area available for filtration without increasing the projected area blocking blood flow. This dimensional transformation allows the filter to capture emboli effectively while maintaining unobstructed blood flow paths through the aortic arch vessels.
3Device complexity
If a flat panel structure is used to filter emboli, then device simplicity is improved, but surface area for filtration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh panels transition from flat two-dimensional structures to three-dimensional wave-shaped configurations. This dimensional change dramatically increases the filtration surface area available for capturing emboli while maintaining relative structural simplicity through repetitive wave patterns that can be manufactured efficiently. The undulating geometry provides enhanced filtration capacity without requiring complex multi-component assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh panels incorporate curved and undulating geometries rather than flat surfaces. These curved configurations increase the effective surface area for emboli filtration while maintaining structural integrity and simplicity. The wave patterns and undulations create multiple filtration surfaces that enhance embolic capture efficiency without adding significant structural complexity to the overall device design.
Data Source
AI summary
The embolic protection device (10) has an expandable tubular structure supporting a filter mesh material (12). The embolic protection device is compressed to a small diameter for insertion into a patient's aorta, then expanded within the aorta with the filter mesh material positioned to allow blood to enter sidebranch vessels connected to the aorta and to prevent embolic material from entering the sidebranch vessels. The filter mesh material may be configured with waves or undulations (26) for increased surface area and/or with two layers of mesh material to provide additional protection against embolization and to prevent inadvertent occlusion of the sidebranch vessels.