Self-Expanding Aneurysm Covering Device With Selective Cell Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices for treating aneurysms, particularly in small and tortuous cerebral blood vessels, face challenges such as occlusion of side branches, migration of coils, and prolonged procedures that disrupt blood flow, leading to risks of vessel occlusion and underperfusion.
Innovation Solution
A medical set comprising a main catheter and a self-expanding lattice structure with a covering device, made of a self-expanding material and electrospun fabric, which can be delivered through small catheters, allows for temporary or permanent coverage of aneurysms, ensuring blood flow through side branches while preventing blood flow into the aneurysm, and optionally includes a detachable connection for a transport wire.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complete covering is applied to seal off the aneurysm, then blood flow into the aneurysm is prevented, but side branches may be occluded and blood flow to downstream tissue is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The covering is applied selectively only to specific cells at the aneurysm location rather than uniformly across the entire stent. This localized application ensures that blood flow is blocked only where the aneurysm is present, while side branches and downstream vessels remain patent and perfused.
2Reliability
If coils are placed to treat the aneurysm, then blood circulation in the aneurysm is reduced, but coils may migrate into the bloodstream and occlude the main vessel lumen
Solution Approach 1:
The covering device is deployed first to create a containment barrier at the aneurysm site before coil placement. This preliminary action prevents coil migration into the bloodstream by providing a physical barrier that retains coils within the aneurysm sac during and after placement.
3Reliability
If a balloon is used to assist coil placement, then coils are contained within the aneurysm, but the balloon occludes the vessel and interrupts blood flow during the procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The covering device serves as an intermediary structure that provides coil containment without requiring balloon inflation. Unlike the balloon that completely occludes the vessel, the covering device allows blood flow to continue through the stent structure while preventing coil escape, thereby eliminating prolonged ischemia.
4Reliability
If the covering is made completely impermeable to prevent blood flow into the aneurysm, then aneurysm isolation is achieved, but blood flow through the blood vessel is completely interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The covering's permeability is differentiated spatially: cells at the aneurysm location are covered and impermeable to block blood flow into the aneurysm, while other cells along the vessel length remain open to maintain blood flow through the vessel. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between isolation and flow maintenance.
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
The solution reduces the risk of vessel occlusion, maintains blood flow to side branches, and enables effective treatment of aneurysms by minimizing the need for additional coil placement, while being flexible enough to navigate small vessels and maintain structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The lattice structure preferably has a shape-memory material or is formed from such a material
Implementation Method 2
The cover is formed from an electrospun fabric and has irregularly sized pores
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a medical set (2) for treating aneurysms (4), comprising a main catheter (8), a covering device (12), which can be moved through the main catheter (8) to a treatment site (10) and is intended for covering an aneurysm (4), wherein the covering device (12) is connected or can be connected to a transporting wire (15) and comprises a self-expandable grid structure (14) made up of webs (16) that are connected to one another in one piece and delimit inner cells (18) and outer cells (20), wherein the outer cells (20) form at one longitudinal end (22) of the grid structure (14) a closed outer-cell ring (24), which is connected only on one side to inner cells (18), characterized in that the grid structure (14) is provided with a covering (26) made of a fabric which has pores (28) of irregular sizes, wherein at least one inner cell (18) of the grid structure (14) is at least partially, in particular mostly, free from the covering. A production process and a medical system are also provided.