Selectively Bonded Stent-Graft for Vascular Conformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stent-grafts lack sufficient flexibility to conform to curved and angled vascular geometries, limiting their effectiveness in treating vascular damage such as aneurysms.
Innovation Solution
A stent-graft design featuring a selectively bonded stent member to a graft member, allowing for increased flexibility by permitting non-bonded portions of the stent to move relative to the graft, enabling the device to curve and bend to accommodate complex vascular geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the stent member is fully bonded to the graft member, then structural strength and stability are improved, but flexibility and ability to conform to curved vascular geometries deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The stent member is selectively bonded to the graft member at specific locations (such as at the apices of undulations or at specific circumferential positions) rather than being fully bonded along the entire length. This segmentation of the bonding interface allows different portions of the stent to have different degrees of freedom, enabling the device to conform to curved vascular geometries while maintaining structural integrity at the bonded regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The selective bonding creates a dynamic structure where non-bonded portions of the stent member can move relative to the graft member during deployment and in response to vascular curvature. This dynamic capability allows the stent-graft to adapt to various vascular geometries while the bonded portions provide necessary structural support and prevent excessive movement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the stent member is selectively bonded to allow movement, then flexibility is improved, but structural stability and positioning accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the stent member are selectively bonded to the graft member based on their functional requirements. For example, the apices of undulations may be bonded to maintain structural shape, while the valleys or specific circumferential portions remain unbonded to provide flexibility. This local differentiation of bonding creates optimal balance between stability and flexibility in different areas of the same device.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of fully bonding the entire stent member to the graft member, only specific portions are bonded. This partial action provides sufficient structural stability where needed while preserving flexibility in unbonded regions, achieving the desired balance without the need for complete bonding.
3Ease of manufacture
If the stent member is made completely continuous, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but ability to bend and curve without interference deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding between stent member and graft member is segmented into discrete bonding zones and unbonded zones. This segmentation allows the stent to be manufactured as a continuous component while creating controlled separation points that enable bending and curving without interference, maintaining both manufacturing simplicity and flexibility.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4B
Figure 4C~5A
AI summary
The present disclosure describes methods and apparatus for forming medical devices comprising a stent member and a graft member. Such devices can include graft members that are bonded to the stent member in a selective manner. The selective bonding can allow for greater flexibility, curvature, and conformity of the device within the body of a patient.