Angulated Stent Graft Side Arm for Branch Vessel Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catheterization and deployment of side branches in stent grafts for thoracic aortic aneurysms are challenging due to strong blood flow and complex anatomy, particularly in regions with major branch vessels, where existing stent grafts with fenestrations or side branches face difficulties in accessing and securing blood flow to these vessels.
Innovation Solution
A stent graft design featuring a tubular side arm with a loose fold of biocompatible graft material that can be angled proximally, distally, or laterally, allowing for flexible positioning and secure attachment to facilitate catheterization and deployment of side branches, supported by zig zag stents and reinforcing rings, enabling effective blood flow diversion and aneurysm treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stent graft with fenestrations or side branches is used to supply blood to branch vessels, then blood flow to branch vessels is maintained, but catheterization and deployment become difficult due to strong blood flow and complex anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The side arm is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be angled proximally, distally, and laterally. This dynamic adjustment enables the side arm to adapt to different anatomical configurations and facilitates catheterization by allowing the operator to position the side arm optimally for access, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining blood flow and enabling easy catheterization.
Solution Approach 2:
The side arm's angle and position can be changed during deployment to optimize catheterization. By adjusting the angular parameters and spatial position of the side arm, the system enables easier access to branch vessels while maintaining the integrity of blood flow supply, thus resolving the operational difficulty.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the side arm is made rigid for stable positioning, then anchoring is secure, but flexibility for angulation and positioning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The side arm incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities with proximal, distal, and lateral angulation, allowing it to adapt to different anatomical requirements while maintaining stable anchoring. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction by enabling both stability and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The side arm utilizes a flexible graft material structure that allows it to be angled and positioned in various orientations while maintaining sufficient strength for anchoring. The flexible material enables the side arm to conform to different anatomical shapes and facilitate catheterization, resolving the contradiction between rigidity for stability and flexibility for positioning.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3C
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A stent graft has a tubular side arm which can be angled proximally and distally and from side to side. The wall of the stent graft in the vicinity of the side arm has a loose fold of the graft material and the side arm is fastened to the loose fold of graft material. The tubular side arm has an inner end and an outer end and is fastened into the loose fold of graft material by a circumferential fastening around the tubular side arm between the inner end and the outer end so that the tubular side arm extends partially within the tubular body of the stent graft and partially outside the tubular body of the stent graft. The loose fold of graft material can be formed by the graft material defining a recess in the wall of the stent graft. To enable movement or angulation proximally and distally and from side to side the loose fold of graft material is provided both proximally and distally of the tubular side arm and circumferentially to each side of the tubular side arm.