Spiral Thin-Film Mesh for Irregular Anatomy Conformability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional medical implants, such as endovascular stents, face challenges in conforming to irregular anatomic surfaces due to limited flexibility in multiple dimensions during delivery and implantation, and there is a need for a thin-film mesh that can deliver therapeutic modalities to specific anatomic sites.

Innovation Solution

A spiral-based thin-film mesh system comprising omni-directionally expandable spirals, such as logarithmic, golden, or Fibonacci spirals, with triangular interconnects, made from thin-film Nitinol (TFN), allowing for flexible expansion in multiple dimensions and efficient delivery of therapeutic agents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional endovascular stent is used, then the stent can be delivered using a catheter and guidewire, but the stent lacks flexibility in multiple dimensions to conform to irregular anatomic surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility to conform to irregular anatomic surfacesVSAvoidstructural complexity of the stent

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stent is divided into multiple individual struts that are connected through joints, allowing each strut to move independently. This segmentation enables the stent to adapt to irregular anatomic surfaces while maintaining overall structural integrity through the modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stent incorporates dynamic joints that allow movement between struts, transforming the structure from rigid to flexible. These joints enable the stent to undergo dramatic changes in radial and axial dimensions during delivery and implantation, conforming to tortuous vascular beds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a thin-film mesh is added to cover the stent, then therapeutic modalities can be delivered locally, but the mesh reduces flexibility in multiple dimensions during delivery and implantation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to deliver therapeutic modalitiesVSAvoidflexibility in multiple dimensions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin-film mesh constructed from flexible struts and joints that can bend and deform in multiple dimensions. This flexible membrane structure maintains the ability to conform to irregular surfaces while providing a platform for therapeutic delivery, resolving the contradiction between rigidity for drug delivery and flexibility for implantation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 thin-film mesh system effectively conforms to irregular anatomies, maintains structural integrity, and enables local delivery of therapeutic agents, reducing the risk of aneurysm rupture and promoting endothelialization.

Implementation Method 1

made from thin-film Nitinol (TFN)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

allowing for flexible expansion in multiple dimensions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuperelasticity: Pseudoelasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20260060823A1Spiral-based thin-film mesh systems and related methods

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 MONARCH BIOSCIENCES INC

AI summary

An implantable thin-film mesh device and related methods are provided. The implantable thin-film mesh device includes a thin-film mesh including a plurality of spirals. The spirals allow the thin-film mesh to expand omni-directionally. In one or more embodiments, the spirals may be logarithmic spirals, golden spirals, approximated golden spirals, box Phi spirals, or Fibonacci spirals. The thin-film mesh may be formed from thin-film Nitinol (TFN), and may be fabricated via sputter deposition on a micropatterned wafer.