Segmented Stent Graft with Variable Diameter for Aneurysm Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stent grafts are too bulky to treat smaller aneurysms effectively, requiring a more compact and easily deliverable solution that can be adequately anchored within the lumen to prevent further radial expansion and facilitate tissue in-growth, while minimizing trauma to the vasculature.
Innovation Solution
A flexible tubular stent/stent graft with a heat-set configuration that can expand to a larger diameter than its proximal and distal ends, allowing it to conform to the aneurysm and engage the lumen upstream and downstream, and can be constrained to a smaller diameter for delivery, featuring a plurality of braided strands and a bulbous portion for enhanced fixation and endothelialization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional stent grafts are used, then they can treat larger aneurysms, but they are too bulky to treat smaller aneurysms effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The stent graft is divided into multiple segments with different diameters along its length. The proximal and distal ends have smaller diameters for engagement with the lumen, while the intermediate portion has a larger diameter to treat smaller aneurysms. This segmentation allows the device to adapt to smaller vascular abnormalities without requiring a completely smaller device.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the stent graft are designed with different dimensional characteristics. The intermediate portion is specifically designed with a larger diameter to match smaller aneurysm sizes, while the ends are designed with smaller diameters for proper lumen engagement. This local variation in quality enables targeted treatment of smaller aneurysms.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the delivery catheter is made smaller to reduce trauma, then less trauma occurs to the vasculature, but the stent graft becomes harder to deliver and position accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design of the stent graft allows it to be compressed into a smaller delivery catheter while maintaining its functional form. The different diameter segments can be collapsed sequentially, enabling passage through smaller catheters without sacrificing the device's ability to expand to the appropriate size for treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent graft is designed to nest within the delivery catheter in a compact configuration. The tubular structure can be collapsed and contained within a smaller catheter diameter, allowing minimally invasive delivery while preserving the ability to deploy the full-sized device at the target site.
3Reliability
If the stent graft is designed to expand to treat the aneurysm, then it can prevent further radial expansion, but it requires complex heat-set configurations with varying diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-set configuration creates local variations in diameter along the stent graft length. The intermediate portion is heat-set to a larger diameter to match the aneurysm size, while the ends are heat-set to smaller diameters for lumen engagement. This local quality variation provides reliable aneurysm containment while treating smaller abnormalities.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-set configuration divides the stent graft into functional segments with different diameters. This segmentation allows each portion to serve its specific function - the larger intermediate portion contains the aneurysm while the smaller end portions engage the healthy lumen, achieving reliable treatment through functional division.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the stent graft engages the lumen upstream and downstream of the aneurysm, then it prevents migration, but it requires the device to have different diameters at different locations
Solution Approach 1:
The stent graft incorporates local quality variations with smaller diameters at the proximal and distal ends specifically designed for lumen engagement and anchoring. These smaller end portions provide stable fixation in the healthy vessel segments upstream and downstream of the aneurysm, preventing device migration while the larger intermediate portion treats the aneurysm.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into anchoring portions (smaller diameter ends) and treatment portions (larger diameter intermediate section). This functional segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of migration prevention through lumen engagement and effective aneurysm treatment through appropriate diameter matching.
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
Enables the treatment of smaller aneurysms with reduced procedural risk, improved anchoring, and enhanced tissue integration, preventing further aneurysm expansion and allowing for prophylactic treatment before significant health risks arise.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible tubular stent/stent graft with a heat-set configuration that can expand to a larger diameter than its proximal and distal ends
Implementation Method 2
A flexible tubular stent/stent graft with a heat-set configuration that can expand to a larger diameter than its proximal and distal ends
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 7~8B
AI summary
A stent/stent graft for reinforcement of vascular abnormalities and an associated method are provided. According to one embodiment, the stent/stent graft includes a flexible tubular structure comprising proximal and distal ends and having a heat set configuration. The tubular structure is configured to engage a lumen upstream and downstream of a vascular abnormality, such as an aneurysm, and a portion between the proximal and distal ends of the tubular structure is configured to engage the aneurysm.