Endoluminal Stent-Graft Running Suture Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stent-graft attachment methods require numerous penetrations and stitches, which can be difficult to manufacture and may not effectively distribute stress, leading to potential defects and complications in vascular applications.
Innovation Solution
An endoluminal prosthetic device comprising a graft with a first and second stent, where at least two apices of each stent are secured to the graft using stitches, and at least one stitch from each stent is linked with a running suture to minimize the number of holes and enhance stability without increasing penetrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple penetrations and stitches are used to secure stent to graft, then stent retention is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate stitches into a single continuous running suture that secures multiple stent apices to the graft simultaneously. This merging approach maintains secure stent retention while reducing the number of discrete penetrations and stitching operations required, thereby simplifying the overall device complexity and manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The running suture provides continuous attachment along the stent-graft interface, distributing the securing action across multiple apices through a single continuous thread. This continuous approach replaces discrete intermittent stitches, maintaining retention strength while reducing the total number of penetrations needed in the graft material.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple stitches are positioned away from bends in the stent, then stress distribution is improved, but the number of penetrations per bend increases
Solution Approach 1:
The running suture continues through and around stent bends without interruption, providing continuous stress distribution along the entire stent-graft interface. This eliminates the need to stop and create separate penetrations at each bend, as the single continuous suture thread distributes forces uniformly across all apices including those at bend locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent apexes are segmented into multiple attachment points along the running suture path, with each apex receiving attachment at different locations along the continuous suture. This segmentation allows stress to be distributed across multiple discrete points while maintaining the continuity of the attaching thread, reducing penetrations per bend while preserving stress distribution benefits.
3Strength
If many resistance welds are used in stent manufacturing, then stent structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the attachment function from the stent structure itself and places it in the running suture system. Instead of requiring complex resistance welds to attach components, the design uses simple mechanical sutures that can be easily applied outside the stent, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed suture attachment mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoluminal prosthetic device for placement in a body lumen is formed by stitching stents to a graft. A first or anchoring stent is used for securing a graft made of biocompatible material that forms at least one lumen. There is also a second stent. The first and second stents each include a plurality of struts and apices between the struts. At least two of the apices in each of the first and second stents are secured to the graft by stitches. A running suture links at least one stitch of the first stent and one stitch of the second stent. The running suture linking the first stent and the second stent adds strength to the stitches and better secures the first stent to the device. The endoluminal prosthetic device may be used in an aortic vessel to treat stenoses or aneurysms.