Stent Delivery Steady Sheath Indicia Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current stent delivery devices lack precise control over the position and orientation of stents during deployment in body lumens, leading to potential misplacement and inefficiencies in treatment.
Innovation Solution
A stent delivery device with a steady sheath featuring visible indicia that allows for accurate positioning of the stent, where the sheath is fixed relative to the inner catheter and handle, enabling precise axial movement of the outer catheter to deploy the stent, and includes markings to indicate the distance from the stent midpoint to the sheath, facilitating accurate deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional stent delivery devices are used without steady sheath and indicia, then the device structure remains simple, but the positioning accuracy and control over stent placement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The steady sheath acts as an intermediary component between the handle and the outer catheter, providing a stable reference frame. The indicia on the steady sheath serve as a mediator for measurement and positioning information, allowing the physician to accurately determine stent position without adding complex active control mechanisms to the delivery device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning mechanisms with a visual indication system. Instead of using complex mechanical stops, gears, or active control systems to maintain positioning accuracy, the invention uses simple visual indicia that can be observed through fluoroscopy or other imaging modalities to guide stent placement.
2Ease of operation
If the outer catheter is made movable relative to the inner catheter for stent deployment, then the deployment functionality is improved, but the control over axial movement and positioning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The steady sheath serves as an intermediary reference structure that remains stationary relative to the handle while the outer catheter moves. This intermediary element provides stable visual references (indicia) that allow the operator to precisely control and monitor the axial movement of the outer catheter during deployment, maintaining measurement precision despite the movable configuration.
3Loss of information
If no visual indicia are provided on the delivery device, then the device structure remains simple, but the ability to determine stent position and orientation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The indicia on the steady sheath utilize visual contrast (different colors, shades, or reflective properties) to provide clear, easily distinguishable position markers. These visual changes allow the physician to quickly and accurately determine stent position and orientation during the procedure without requiring complex electronic or mechanical information systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex electronic positioning systems or mechanical measurement devices with simple visual indicia that can be directly observed. This substitution provides adequate position information while maintaining device simplicity, as the indicia are passive visual markers rather than active sensing or control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery assembly and methods for accurately positioning a stent within a body lumen are disclosed. The delivery assembly comprises a stent releasably attached to the distal end of an inner catheter. A handle at the proximal end of the assembly is operatively connected to the proximal end of an outer catheter and is configured for imparting axial movement to the outer catheter. A sheath is fixed to the handle or inner catheter and disposed about at least a portion of the outer catheter. The sheath comprises indicia visible to the user of the assembly to identify a particular measured distance from a selected point on the sheath to a selected point on one or more components of the delivery device. The inner catheter and sheath are fixed components that do not move relative to each other during axial movement of the outer catheter.