Steering Wire Attachment for Perpendicular Stent Graft Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices face challenges in accurately deploying expandable devices to treat complex vascular conditions such as aortic dissections and aneurysms due to the tortuous nature of the vasculature, often resulting in non-perpendicular deployment that affects sealing and device performance.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system with an expandable device and an actuation wire coupled via tethers, allowing for bidirectional steering and maintaining one end perpendicular to the vessel curvature, facilitating precise placement and deployment of the device using a catheter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wire attach methods (sutures, knots, adhesives) are used, then the wire can be attached to the mandrel, but the attachment creates irregularities that disrupt fluid flow and increase pressure gradient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin-walled balloon catheter as a flexible shell to enclose the wire and mandrel. The balloon creates a smooth outer surface that eliminates irregularities protruding into the fluid stream, while the flexibility allows it to conform to the mandrel and wire configuration. This resolves the contradiction by providing stable wire attachment through the balloon's enveloping structure while maintaining smooth fluid flow outside the balloon.
2Ease of operation
If the wire is attached to the mandrel, then the wire can be delivered to the target site, but the attachment method complicates the delivery system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the wire attachment function with the balloon catheter structure. The balloon serves dual purposes: it acts as both the delivery vehicle for the wire-mandrel assembly and as the attachment mechanism itself. The wire is attached to the mandrel, and the balloon encloses both, eliminating the need for separate attachment devices or complex coupling mechanisms. This reduces device complexity while maintaining ease of wire delivery.
3Ease of operation
If the wire is exposed outside the catheter, then the wire can be manipulated at the target site, but the wire creates turbulence and pressure drop in the fluid stream
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon catheter acts as a flexible shell that encloses the wire and mandrel assembly during delivery. The balloon's smooth outer surface eliminates wire-induced turbulence and pressure drops in the fluid stream. At the target site, the balloon can be inflated or repositioned to expose the wire tip for manipulation while maintaining smooth flow in the main fluid stream, thus resolving the contradiction between wire manipulability and fluid flow quality.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for example device delivery. The apparatuses, systems, and methods may include an actuation wire coupled to the expandable device at one or more locations thereon, the actuation wire being configured to steer the expandable device during delivery.