Stent Delivery System Bidirectional Deployment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stent delivery systems lack precision in deploying self-expanding stents, as the final location of the proximal end is unknown until the stent is fully expanded, making precise placement challenging, especially in applications where the distal-to-proximal deployment method may not ensure accurate positioning of the proximal end.
Innovation Solution
A stent delivery system with a slidable inner member and an outer sheath that can be selectively uncoupled at distinct junctions, allowing for deployment in either a distal-to-proximal or proximal-to-distal manner by rotating the inner member relative to the outer sheath, enabling controlled exposure and expansion of the stent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the outer sheath is retracted in the proximal direction to allow stent expansion, then the stent can be deployed, but the final location of the proximal end cannot be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The outer sheath is divided into two separate portions: a distal portion that can be independently retracted from a proximal portion. This segmentation allows selective control over stent deployment direction and endpoint positioning, resolving the contradiction by enabling precise placement control through independent manipulation of sheath segments rather than monolithic retraction
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery system incorporates dynamic, detachable junctions (proximal and distal junctions) that can be selectively uncoupled during deployment. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the operator to control whether the distal or proximal end of the stent is deployed first, providing real-time adaptability to achieve precise placement while managing system complexity through controlled dynamic changes rather than static fixed architecture
2Measurement precision
If the stent is deployed in distal-to-proximal manner, then the distal end can be placed in a particular location, but the proximal end location cannot be precisely determined
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the outer sheath into distal and proximal portions with independent control, the system enables reverse deployment (proximal-to-distal) where the proximal end is exposed first while the distal end remains constrained. This allows the operator to precisely control proximal end placement before completing deployment, directly addressing the imprecision problem in traditional distal-to-proximal deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables inversion of the traditional deployment sequence by allowing proximal-to-distal deployment through selective uncoupling of the proximal junction first. This reverses the conventional approach where distal end is deployed first, allowing precise control over proximal end placement while maintaining ease of operation through the same rotational control mechanism
3Adaptability or versatility
If the outer sheath is made detachable at proximal and distal junctions for bidirectional deployment, then deployment flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proximal and distal junctions are designed with universal detachable coupling mechanisms that can be selectively uncoupled in either direction. This multi-functional design allows the same junction structure to serve both deployment directions (distal-to-proximal and proximal-to-distal), achieving high adaptability while managing complexity through standardized universal coupling rather than separate specialized mechanisms for each direction
Data Source
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AI summary
Stent delivery device including an inner member having a distal tip, a stent support member, and a stent disposed over a stent receiving region of the stent support member. An elongated outer sheath is slidably disposed over the inner member and the stent. The stent delivery device includes a distal junction removably coupling the distal end of the outer sheath to the distal tip, where the distal junction is actuatable to decouple the outer sheath from the distal tip. The stent delivery device includes a proximal junction removably coupling a distal portion of the outer sheath to a proximal portion of the outer sheath, where the proximal junction is actuatable to decouple the distal portion of the outer sheath from the proximal portion of the outer sheath. The distal and proximal junctions may be separately actuatable by rotating the inner member relative to the proximal portion of the outer sheath.