Stent Profile Reduction via Balloon Fold Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stent delivery systems face challenges in reducing the profile of stents during crimping, which limits their size reduction and securement to the balloon, leading to inefficiencies in minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
The technique involves folding peaks and troughs of the stent into the folds of a pleated balloon, allowing for a reduced stent profile and enhanced securement by embedding stent portions within the balloon folds, utilizing pleated balloon configurations and strategic strut folding techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the stent is crimped onto the balloon in a conventional manner, then the stent can be delivered to the site, but the stent profile cannot be sufficiently reduced and securement is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The stent peaks are folded into and nested within the folds of the pleated balloon, allowing the stent to be compacted into a smaller profile while the folded peaks remain embedded in the balloon folds to maintain securement. This nesting arrangement resolves the contradiction by simultaneously achieving reduced size and reliable attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent structure transitions from a conventional two-dimensional crimped state to a three-dimensional configuration where peaks are folded into the balloon folds. This dimensional change allows the stent to occupy less space while maintaining structural integrity and securement through the folded geometry.
2Manufacturing precision
If the stent profile is reduced for minimally invasive delivery, then the delivery precision is improved, but the structural integrity during expansion may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is designed with dynamic folding capability, where peaks can be folded into the balloon folds during delivery for precision, and then dynamically unfold during expansion to restore full structural integrity. The material and geometry are designed to accommodate this dynamic transformation without compromising strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent peaks are pre-folded into the balloon folds during the crimping process, creating a compact configuration for precise delivery. The folding geometry is designed in advance to ensure that when the stent is expanded, the peaks naturally return to their original positions, restoring structural integrity before the stent is deployed.
Data Source
AI summary
Medical devices, systems, and techniques are described for reducing the profile of a stent. In one example, a stent having a reduced state and an expanded state includes a plurality of interconnected annular rings arranged about a longitudinal axis, each of the plurality of annular bands comprising a plurality of peaks and a plurality of troughs, wherein in the reduced state, at least one of the plurality of peaks of at least one of the plurality of rings is positioned a first distance from the longitudinal axis, another one of the plurality of peaks being positioned a second distance from the longitudinal axis, the first distance being less than the second distance, and wherein in the expanded state, the plurality of peaks of the stent being positioned at substantially the same distance from the longitudinal axis.