Slidable Fenestration Prosthesis for Branch Vessel Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoluminal prostheses often struggle to accommodate branch vessels effectively, leading to potential blockage or hindrance of blood flow, especially when there is insufficient healthy tissue near branching vessels to seal the prosthesis without obstructing the branch vessels.

Innovation Solution

The development of a prosthesis with slidable fenestrations that can adapt to the geometry of branch vessels, allowing the fenestrations to move axially and radially within a pouch to accommodate the dynamic geometry of aortic branches, ensuring unobstructed blood flow and secure placement of the prosthesis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a prosthesis is sealed against the aortic wall to ensure structural integrity, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but blood flow through branch vessels is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidblockage of branch vessel blood flow

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis is segmented into multiple sections including a main body and a separate pouch structure. The pouch can be selectively opened or fenestrated to accommodate branch vessels, allowing the main sealing structure to remain intact while creating localized openings for blood flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch is designed as a dynamic structure that can transition between closed and open states. This allows the prosthesis to adapt its configuration based on the need for sealing versus branch vessel patency, transforming from a static seal to a dynamic system that can open selectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the prosthesis geometry is fixed to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability to varying branch vessel geometries is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to branch vessel geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch geometry and opening characteristics can be varied by changing manufacturing parameters such as material properties, pouch size, and fenestration configuration. This allows a single basic pouch design to accommodate different branch vessel geometries by adjusting these parameters rather than creating entirely different prosthesis designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3078349B1Prosthesis with fenestration

Publication Date: 2019.06.19 COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

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Figure 3A~3C

AI summary

A prosthesis (110) comprising a graft having a tubular body (111) with a wall (120) defining an external surface of the graft and a pouch (154) further comprises a strip (152) with at least one fenestration (153), wherein the strip is at least partially contained within the pouch. A window (151) may be formed within the wall, wherein the fenestration is at least partially aligned with the window, thereby forming a channel (160) through the fenestration and the window.