Endoluminal Stent Delivery Cover Hardness for Deployment Effort
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of endoluminal prostheses with self-expanding stents often requires high operating effort due to the expansion force of the stent against the delivery device's inner surface, potentially causing damage and increased effort for removal.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system with a cover having an inner surface hardness equal to or greater than the stent, allowing the stent to be compressed and biased against this surface, reducing interference and operating effort during deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stent is made with sharpened barbs for anchoring, then the anchoring capability is improved, but the operating effort to remove the cover increases and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the cover's inner surface by applying a hard coating (such as diamond-like carbon or ceramic) that increases the surface hardness to be greater than the stent material hardness. This parameter change allows the cover to resist the sharpened barbs without being damaged, reducing the operating effort required for removal while maintaining the anchoring capability of the stent.
2Reliability
If the stent expansion force is increased for better deployment, then the deployment effectiveness is improved, but the interference with the cover increases and operating effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the surface hardness parameter of the cover's inner surface through hard coating application. This allows the cover to withstand higher stent expansion forces during deployment without increasing friction or operating effort, as the hard surface reduces deformation and sticking between the stent and cover.
3Reliability
If the stent is made more aggressive with sharper barbs, then the anchoring performance is improved, but the risk of digging into the cover increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the hardness parameter of the cover's inner surface by applying hard coatings such as diamond-like carbon (DLA), diamond-like carbon with fluorocarbon (DLF), or ceramic coatings. These coatings have surface hardness significantly greater than the stent material, preventing the sharpened barbs from digging into or damaging the cover while maintaining full anchoring performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by applying a hard coating layer onto the cover substrate. This composite material system combines the structural integrity of the cover with the extreme surface hardness of the coating, enabling the cover to resist the aggressive barbs without compromising its function.
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 system reduces the effort required to remove the cover from the stent and prevents damage by ensuring the stent cannot dig into the cover, enabling the use of more aggressive stent designs and facilitating smoother deployment.
Implementation Method 1
The stent is biased into contact with the inner surface which has a hardness that is equal to or greater than the hardness of the stent
Data Source
AI summary
A system for endoluminally delivering and deploying a prosthesis includes a prosthesis comprising a self-expanding stent and a cover for retaining at least a portion of the self-expanding stent. The stent is biased into contact with an inner surface of the cover. The inner surface has a hardness that is equal to or greater than the hardness of the stent. Additional aspects of the invention are disclosed and include a method of manufacturing an endoluminal prosthesis delivery and deployment system.