Stent Delivery System Deflecting Tensioning Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current stent delivery systems face challenges in secure handling and precise release of stents during deployment, with existing mechanisms prone to play and unintended movement, which can lead to inaccurate stent expansion and potential complications.

Innovation Solution

A stent delivery system with a deflecting and tensioning device that pre-tensions and deflects the flexible pull member, allowing for precise control of the stent release by preventing unintended detachment from the winding spool, ensuring secure handling and exact deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the flexible pull member is used to retract the outer sheath, then the stent can be released for expansion, but the pull member may detach from the winding spool due to play or unintended movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure handling during stent releaseVSAvoidprecise release control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The deflecting and tensioning device is activated before the winding spool to pre-tension the flexible pull member and eliminate play. This preliminary action ensures that when the pull member engages with the winding spool, it maintains constant tension and cannot detach, thereby achieving reliable and precise stent release control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the outer sheath is retracted to release the stent, then the stent can expand within the blood vessel, but unintended movement or play may occur during the process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestent deploymentVSAvoidsecure handling during release
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The deflecting and tensioning device is activated before the winding spool to pre-tension the flexible pull member and eliminate play. This preliminary action ensures that when the pull member engages with the winding spool, it maintains constant tension and cannot detach, thereby achieving reliable and precise stent release control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Length of moving object

If the flexible pull member is deflected towards the winding spool, then the proximal end of the outer sheath can be displaced beyond the winding spool position, but the member may come off the spool due to play

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplacement of outer sheathVSAvoidexact deployment position
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The deflecting and tensioning device is activated before the winding spool to pre-tension the flexible pull member and eliminate play. This preliminary action ensures that when the pull member engages with the winding spool, it maintains constant tension and cannot detach, thereby achieving reliable and precise stent release control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3934590B1Stent delivery system and handling device for a stent delivery system
Publication Date: 2023.07.19 B BRAUN MELSUNGEN AG
  • EP3934590B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3934590B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3934590B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Stent delivery system, comprising: a handling device having a housing, a thumbwheel mounted in the housing to be rotatable, and a winding spool rotating together with the thumbwheel; a catheter arrangement having an inner shaft, with a proximal end of the inner shaft fixed on the housing, an outer sheath disposed coaxially to the inner shaft, and having at least one stent which is received radially between the inner shaft and the outer sheath; a flexible pull member which, with one end, engages on a proximal end of the outer sheath and, with the other end, is held on the winding spool to be windable; wherein, for release of at least the one stent, the outer sheath is displaceable relative to the inner shaft in the proximal direction by means of winding the flexible pull member on the winding spool; wherein a deflecting and tensioning device is provided spaced from the winding spool in the proximal direction, which deflecting and tensioning device is in operative connection to the flexible pull member, and is used to deflect the flexible pull member in a direction towards the winding spool and to tension the flexible pull member.