Stent Graft Apertures with Hook-Loop Branch Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current stent grafts face challenges in treating aortic aneurysms near branch vessels due to the risk of occluding branch arteries and requiring customization for specific patient anatomy, which complicates deployment and stability.

Innovation Solution

A stent graft design with apertures alignable with branch arteries, featuring a secondary flow lumen structure that extends into the arteries and secures with a hook-loop attachment system, allowing for blood flow while maintaining positional stability and preventing leakage into the aneurysmal region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a stent graft is positioned to seal against healthy aorta wall tissue, then the aneurysm is effectively excluded from blood flow, but the branch arteries may be occluded due to the need to extend the stent graft into the aneurysmal region

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaneurysm exclusion effectivenessVSAvoidbranch artery occlusion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stent graft is divided into distinct functional segments: a main body portion that seals against the aorta wall to exclude the aneurysm, and separate branch artery flow lumen structures that independently extend into branch arteries to maintain their patency. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the stent graft have different structural properties optimized for their specific functions. The main body has a sealing structure designed to engage with the aorta wall, while the branch artery portions have flow lumens designed to align with and maintain blood flow into branch arteries. This local differentiation resolves the conflict between sealing effectiveness and branch artery preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a stent graft is customized to match specific patient anatomy with precisely aligned apertures for branch arteries, then branch artery flow is maintained, but the device complexity and manufacturing requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebranch artery flow maintenanceVSAvoidpatient-specific customization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stent graft is designed as a universal device with a standardized main body and modular branch artery flow lumen structures that can accommodate multiple branch artery configurations. The flow lumen structures are designed to be positionable and alignable with branch arteries through deployment mechanics rather than patient-specific manufacturing, making the device universally applicable while maintaining branch artery flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The branch artery flow lumen structures are designed to be dynamically positionable during deployment, allowing alignment with branch arteries through the deployment process itself rather than requiring pre-customized static geometry. This dynamic alignment capability reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining effective branch artery flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the stent graft is deployed without precise alignment with branch arteries, then deployment is simpler and faster, but the stent graft may migrate to a position that blocks branch arteries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidstent graft positional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The branch artery flow lumen structures are pre-configured with alignment features and attachment mechanisms that guide their positioning during deployment. The attachment portion with engagement structures is prepared in advance to automatically align with and secure to the main body at the correct position, eliminating the need for complex real-time alignment while ensuring stable positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stent graft incorporates self-aligning and self-securing features where the branch artery flow lumen structures automatically position themselves relative to the main body during deployment through inherent mechanical properties such as radial expansion forces and engagement with predetermined attachment portions. This self-service positioning maintains stability without requiring complex external alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8911491B2Methods and apparatus for treatment of aneurysms adjacent branch arteries including branch artery flow lumen alignment

Publication Date: 2014.12.16 MEDTRONIC VASCULAR INC

AI summary

A stent graft extends in a flow lumen to span a defective portion of the flow lumen and seal the defective portion from further blood contact. The stent graft includes a pair of apertures, from which extensions project into the renal arteries to seal the passage of blood into the renal arteries from the abnormality. The apertures are larger than the opening of the renal arteries, such that the apertures need not be centered with the renal arteries to enable placement of the extensions. The aperture opening and side branch extensions contain hook and loop structures to provide a variably positionable seal of the aperture opening.