Selectable Tip Delivery System for Stent-Grafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stent-graft delivery systems require multiple systems for different procedures, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to the need for various delivery systems tailored to specific anatomical and procedural requirements.
Innovation Solution
A customizable delivery system featuring a catheter with a selectable tip kit containing multiple uniquely shaped tips, allowing physicians to choose the best-suited tip for each procedure, which is then non-removably attached to the catheter, providing a case-specific solution at a low expense with minimal additional engineering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different delivery systems are used for different procedures, then the suitability for specific anatomical and procedural requirements is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system employs a universal catheter platform that can accommodate multiple different tips (e.g., straight tip, angled tip, curved tip) through a standardized attachment mechanism. This allows a single delivery system to perform multiple functions and adapt to different procedural requirements, eliminating the need for multiple separate delivery systems while maintaining versatility across various anatomical configurations and procedure types
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different delivery systems are used for different procedures, then the suitability for specific anatomical and procedural requirements is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a universal catheter platform that works with multiple tip types, the system reduces the overall cost by eliminating the need to manufacture, store, and maintain multiple separate delivery systems. The standardized attachment mechanism allows physicians to select the appropriate tip for each procedure while using the same catheter platform, thereby reducing equipment costs and improving cost-effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The tips are designed as disposable components that can be easily attached and detached from the reusable catheter platform. This approach allows the expensive catheter to be reused across multiple procedures while the cheaper, procedure-specific tips are discarded after single use, thereby reducing overall system cost
3Ease of operation
If a customizable tip selection system is implemented, then the physician control and procedure optimization are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is designed to create an equipotential interface between the catheter and various tip types, meaning that all tips connect to the catheter through the same standardized mechanism regardless of their specific geometry or function. This simplifies the attachment process and reduces the complexity of the connection system while maintaining ease of operation and physician control over tip selection
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery system for delivering a prosthesis includes a catheter and a selectable tip kit having a plurality of tips. Each tip is uniquely shaped, i.e., has a particular shape different than the shape of all the other tips, and each tip is better suited for some procedures than for others. One of the tips is selected by the physician as being particularly well suited for the procedure to be performed. The selected tip is non-removably attached to the catheter and the remaining tips are discarded. This allows the delivery system to be customizable to each procedure, putting the physician in control of the case. This provides a case specific delivery system for the physicians to use and at a very low expense and with minimal additional engineering.