Stent Opaque Marker Attachment via Nested L-Shaped Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stents with radiation-opaque markers face reliability issues with the markers detaching from the strut within luminal structures, and there is a need for easier attachment methods during manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A stent design featuring L-shaped protrusions on the strut to securely hold a tubular, radiation-opaque member, which is inserted between the protrusions, providing structural support and ease of attachment, preventing detachment within the luminal structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an opaque member is attached to a strut using conventional methods, then the stent can be manufactured, but the opaque member may detach within the luminal structure reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The opaque member is inserted into and nested within the hollow cylindrical body, while the L-shaped protrusions are embedded within the wall thickness of the cylindrical body. This nested configuration secures the opaque member to the strut without requiring external attachment mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between attachment reliability and manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The L-shaped protrusions extend from the inner surface toward the outer surface of the cylindrical body wall, creating a three-dimensional attachment structure. This dimensional approach provides mechanical interlocking that prevents detachment while maintaining a simple insertion process, addressing both reliability and ease of manufacture.
2Reliability
If the opaque member is securely attached to prevent detachment, then reliability is improved, but the attachment process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The simple nested configuration of the opaque member within the cylindrical body, secured by L-shaped protrusions, achieves reliable attachment without complex external structures. The protrusions are integrated into the wall thickness rather than adding separate attachment components, maintaining device simplicity while ensuring marker retention.
3Strength
If the L-shaped protrusions extend fully through the cylindrical body wall, then attachment strength is maximized, but insertion of the opaque member becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The L-shaped protrusions are pre-formed within the wall thickness of the cylindrical body before the opaque member is inserted. This preliminary configuration allows the opaque member to be slid into position along the inner surface, with the protrusions providing gradual mechanical interlocking rather than immediate full-strength engagement, facilitating easy insertion while maintaining attachment strength.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a stent that has high reliability to prevent an opaque member from coming off in a luminal structure and includes a strut and an opaque member attached to the strut with a high level of ease of attachment. A stent 11 according to the invention includes: a strut 17a extending in a predetermined direction; a first protrusion 40 provided on the strut 17a, the first protrusion 40 being substantially L-shaped and extending in a direction away from the strut 17a and in a direction toward a distal side in the predetermined direction; a second protrusion 41 that is provided on the strut 17a and located distal to the first protrusion 40, the second protrusion 41 being substantially L-shaped, extending in a direction away from the strut 17a and in a direction toward a proximal side in the predetermined direction, and having a tip 411 spaced apart from a tip 401 of the first protrusion 40; and an opaque member 31 being substantially tubular and highly opaque to radiation, the opaque member 31 having two end portions in which the first and second protrusions 40 and 41 are inserted, respectively.