Stent Helical Struts Axial Overlap Biodegradable Link Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stents with high flexibility, such as helical shaped struts, can deform easily under external forces, leading to connection section overlap and reduced diameter, which hinders blood flow due to insufficient distribution of connection sections along the radial direction.
Innovation Solution
A stent design featuring linear struts with helical portions and link portions that include first and second connection sections connected by a biodegradable material, where the connection sections are positioned to overlap along the axial direction, preventing overlap when deformed, and maintaining structural integrity until the biodegradable material degrades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If helical shaped struts are used to improve flexibility, then the stent can better follow the shape of the body lumen, but the struts become easily deformed by external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The strut is divided into multiple helical portions connected by link portions. Each helical portion maintains flexibility while the link portions provide connection points that resist deformation. The segmentation allows the stent to bend and conform to body lumens while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The link portion uses a biodegradable material that connects the helical portions. This composite structure combines the flexibility of helical metal portions with the bonding properties of the biodegradable material, creating a structure that is both flexible and resistant to deformation during the healing process.
2Device complexity
If connection sections are positioned to overlap along the radial direction to simplify structure, then manufacturing is easier, but the stent diameter is reduced and blood flow is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The connection sections are arranged to overlap along the axial direction instead of the radial direction. This dimensional change in the overlap arrangement maintains the simplified connection structure while preventing radial thickening that would reduce stent diameter and hinder blood flow.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having connection sections overlap in the radial direction (conventional approach), the invention inverts the overlap direction to the axial direction. This inversion resolves the contradiction by maintaining structural simplicity while preserving adequate stent diameter for blood flow.
3Reliability
If connection sections are distributed to prevent overlapping under deformation, then blood flow is maintained, but the distribution pattern becomes complex and manufacturing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connection sections are pre-positioned and fixed in their respective helical portions before the biodegradable material degrades. This preliminary positioning ensures that when deformation occurs, the connection sections are already in the correct positions to prevent overlapping, maintaining reliability without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameters of the connection sections along the axial direction, creating a specific distribution pattern that prevents overlap under deformation. This parameter change (axial positioning) achieves the reliability goal while maintaining manufacturability through a systematic arrangement rather than complex asymmetric positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The stent maintains high strength and flexibility, preventing connection section overlap and ensuring smooth blood flow by allowing the stent to follow the body lumen's shape without reducing its diameter, even under compression and bending forces.
Implementation Method 1
a biodegradable material configured to connect the first connection section and the second connection section by being interposed between the first connection section and the second connection section
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A stent is disclosed, which is capable of preventing connection sections from overlapping with each other in a radial direction when a force is applied inadvertently thereto by adjusting distribution of the connection sections with respect to a direction of helix of the strut. A link portion of the stent includes connection sections provided integrally with one helical portion and other helical portions adjacent to each other, and disposed in positions overlapped with each other at least partly along an axial direction of a cylindrical shape in a state of opposing to each other, and a biodegradable material connecting connection sections by being interposed between the connection sections.