Segmented Stent Elements for Vascular Implantation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stents used in hollow organs, particularly in bendable vascular regions, face issues such as material weakening, breakage, and vascular wall injuries due to pushing, pulling, and twisting movements, as well as challenges in precise placement and residual connection elements causing friction and potential injuries.
Innovation Solution
A stent arrangement featuring multiple independent, self-expanding stent elements arranged on an axial line within a shaft, with spacers to maintain spacing and prevent expansion during implantation, allowing for precise placement and reduced friction, enabling the use of a single implantation kit for various body locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a single continuous stent is used in bendable vascular regions, then the stent provides continuous structural support, but pushing, pulling and twisting movements occur causing material weakening, breakage and vascular wall injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into multiple independent stent elements (first, second, and third stent elements) that are not connected to each other. These segmented elements can move independently within the shaft, reducing the transmission of mechanical stresses during bending, pushing, and twisting movements, thereby preventing material weakening and breakage while maintaining vascular wall safety.
2Stability of the object's composition
If connection elements are used to join stent pieces, then the stent maintains structural integrity, but traces of connection elements remain causing friction and vascular wall injury
Solution Approach 1:
The connection elements that previously joined stent pieces are completely removed from the design. The stent elements are delivered independently within the shaft without any connecting structures, eliminating the source of friction and vascular wall injury while maintaining the functional integrity of the stent through proper positioning and deployment of the independent elements.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple independent stent elements are arranged alongside each other on an axial line, then precise placement and reduced friction are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple independent stent elements are nested within a single shaft structure, with each stent element positioned along the axial line and surrounded by the shaft. This nesting approach allows precise placement of multiple stent elements through one delivery system without proportionally increasing the external device complexity, as the shaft provides a unified containment and deployment mechanism.
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 solution allows for the independent placement of stent elements, reducing friction and stress on the vascular wall, preventing injuries and enabling precise positioning, while allowing for the use of a single catheter kit, leading to reduced patient stress and cost savings.
Implementation Method 1
the stent elements are self-expanding or self-expandable and have a smaller radial dimension prior to the implantation and expand during or after the implantation to a larger radial dimension
Data Source
AI summary
Arrangement for implanting stent elements in or around a hollow organ, having a plurality of stent elements, more particularly self-expanding stent elements, wherein the stent elements are arranged on an axial line (L) and wherein lateral surfaces of the respective stent elements are defined by material-free regions and material webs.