Sequential Stent Graft Deployment in Curved Aorta

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Solution Overview

Problem

Positioning stent grafts in the ascending aorta is challenging due to the significant curvature of the aortic arch, leading to loss of control over deployment devices and the need for precise placement to avoid gaps between the aorta and the graft, especially near the aortic valve.

Innovation Solution

A stent graft assembly with constraining mechanisms and an actuation mechanism that allows sequential and circumferentially staggered release of stents from the proximal to the distal end, enabling precise deployment and repositioning before full expansion, using suture threads or filaments and trigger wires to manage the deployment process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a stent graft is positioned in the ascending aorta near the aortic valve, then accurate placement without gaps is achieved, but control over the deployment device is lost due to the significant curvature of the aortic arch

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement accuracyVSAvoidcontrol over deployment device

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stent graft is divided into multiple individual stents that can be released sequentially from proximal to distal end. This segmentation allows the deployment process to be controlled in stages, maintaining operator control while achieving accurate final placement in the curved ascending aorta.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stent graft is pre-loaded in a compressed state within the delivery device, with all stents initially constrained. This preliminary constrained state allows the device to be navigated through the curved aortic arch with control, and deployment is then activated at the precise location needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If all stents are released simultaneously, then deployment is quick, but precise placement and repositioning capability are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidplacement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stent graft comprises multiple individually releasable stents with separate constraining mechanisms. This allows selective and sequential release of stents from proximal to distal end, enabling precise placement verification and repositioning before complete deployment, while still maintaining overall deployment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The constraining mechanisms are designed to be dynamically releasable, transitioning from a constrained to an expanded state in a controlled sequence. This dynamic deployment process allows adjustment and repositioning during the procedure while maintaining the capability for rapid complete deployment if needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10292847B2System and method for the sequential expansion of a medical device

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A system for deploying a stent graft includes a stent graft. The stent graft has a tubular structure and includes first and second end stents and at least one stent between the first and second end stents. The system also includes a plurality of constraining mechanisms arranged along the length of the stent graft constraining the stents of the stent graft, and an actuation mechanism configured to release the plurality of constraining mechanisms in order from the first end to the second end of the stent graft and circumferentially sequentially from about the stents.