Slotted Stent Delivery Catheter for Guidewire-Preserving Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stent delivery systems face challenges such as the need to remove the guidewire during deployment, complexity in manufacturing, and lack of resistance feedback during stent deployment, making handling difficult and costly.

Innovation Solution

A stent delivery device with a guide catheter featuring a slot and a pusher catheter that allows the guidewire to be led out of both catheters, enabling deployment without guidewire removal, and includes markers and a locking mechanism for secure guidewire positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the guidewire is removed during stent deployment, then the stent can be deployed in stenosis, but the guidance for subsequent instruments is compromised and additional steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance reliabilityVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire extraction function is separated from the catheter system. The guidewire is pulled through the slot in the guide catheter and secured externally to the endoscope, allowing the catheter to be exchanged while the guidewire remains in place, maintaining guidance for subsequent instruments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The slot in the guide catheter acts as an intermediary structure that allows the guidewire to pass through and be secured externally. This intermediary mechanism enables the guidewire to be retained while allowing catheter exchange and stent deployment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the guidewire is fixed to the endoscope in short-wire systems, then examination and treatment time is reduced, but the guidewire must be removed to deploy the stent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexamination and treatment timeVSAvoidguidewire management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire is extracted from the catheter through the slot and secured to the endoscope shaft. This allows the guidewire to remain in place during the procedure while enabling stent deployment, eliminating the need to remove and reinsert the guidewire

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The guidewire is pre-secured to the endoscope shaft through the slot mechanism before stent deployment. This preliminary action ensures the guidewire remains in place throughout the procedure, allowing continuous guidance while reducing operational steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If alternative stent delivery devices with welded tubes are used, then guidewire removal is avoided, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidewire retentionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The guide catheter is segmented with a slot instead of being a continuous welded tube. This segmentation allows the guidewire to pass through and be retained without requiring complex welded tube constructions, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining guidewire retention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The slot is created only in the specific region of the guide catheter where guidewire passage is needed, rather than requiring complex welded tube structures throughout. This localized modification maintains simplicity while achieving the desired functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If no resistance feedback is provided during stent deployment, then the system is simpler, but handling difficulty increases due to lack of deployment indication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeedback mechanism complexityVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Haptic feedback is provided through the slot mechanism during stent deployment. As the stent is deployed through the slot, the operator can feel resistance changes that indicate deployment progress and completion, enabling precise control without complex electronic feedback systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4279038B1Stent delivery device and endoscope with such a stent delivery device
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 MEDI GLOBE
  • EP4279038B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4279038B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4279038B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a stent delivery device (10) comprising a guide catheter (12) with a distal end region (12d) on which the stent (14) can be positioned, a proximal end region (12p), and a guide channel (16) extending between the distal end region (12d) and the proximal end region (12p), and having at least a first opening (16a) and a second opening (16b) for a guide wire (18). The stent delivery device (10) further comprises a push-button catheter (20) which is movable relative to the guide catheter (12) between a rest position, in which the stent (14) is held at the distal end region (12d) of the guide catheter (12), and a deployment position, in which the stent (14) can be released.The guiding catheter (12) has a slot (28) extending from the first opening (16a) towards the second opening (16b) of the guiding channel (16) and the pusher catheter (20) has an opening (30) through which the guide wire (18) leading from the first opening (16a) of the guiding catheter (12) can be led out of the pusher catheter (20).