Stent-Graft Suture Attachment for Reduced Delivery Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stent-grafts face challenges in minimizing delivery profile due to the use of multiple sutures for secure engagement, which limits their applicability to patients with smaller vessels and increases material usage.
Innovation Solution
A stent-graft design featuring a stent with proximal and distal ends, strut segments, and distal apices with non-overlapping sutures positioned at different longitudinal zones, along with an imaging bore and barbs, to securely attach to graft material while reducing the overall delivery profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sutures are provided to secure engagement between stent and graft material, then reliability of attachment is improved, but delivery profile size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions multiple sutures at different longitudinal zones along the stent- graft interface rather than stacking them axially. This spatial redistribution in the longitudinal dimension allows multiple attachment points without increasing the compressed delivery diameter, resolving the contradiction between attachment reliability and delivery profile size
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is segmented into multiple discrete suture locations distributed along the longitudinal axis. Each suture provides independent attachment security, and their distributed positioning prevents axial overlap that would increase delivery profile, thereby maintaining both reliability and compactness
2Reliability
If multiple sutures are provided to increase safety against suture breakage, then reliability is improved, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suture attachment system is divided into multiple discrete segments positioned at different longitudinal zones. This segmentation provides redundant attachment points for safety while minimizing total suture material by using thin, distributed sutures rather than fewer, thicker overlapping sutures
3Strength
If multiple sutures are provided for secure engagement, then attachment strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the complexity issue by positioning sutures in different longitudinal zones rather than creating complex three-dimensional overlaps. This one-dimensional distribution along the longitudinal axis simplifies the configuration while maintaining multiple attachment points for secure engagement
Data Source
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AI summary
The present embodiments provide stent-grafts. In one embodiment, a stent has proximal and distal ends, a plurality of strut segments disposed between the proximal and distal ends that enable expansion of the stent from a compressed state to a deployed state, and a series of distal apices disposed at the distal end of the stent. At least a portion of a first distal apex overlaps with graft material. First and second sutures are each coupled between a portion of the first distal apex and the graft material. The first and second sutures are positioned at different longitudinal zones that lack an axial overlap with one another.