Stent Deployment Locking Mechanism Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current stent deployment methods require additional steps to release or disengage locking mechanisms, complicating the process of deploying stents within body lumens and potentially increasing procedural complexity and risk.

Innovation Solution

A stent-deployment assembly featuring a guidewire-retaining segment with a laterally breachable portion, a stent surrounding a proximally displaced tube segment, and a proximally-withdrawable locking mechanism that decouples the guidewire and disengages the locking mechanism upon proximal withdrawal of the stent-conveyance tube, allowing for seamless deployment without manual guidewire manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking mechanism is used to control stent movement during deployment, then stent positioning reliability is improved, but device complexity and procedural steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent positioning reliabilityVSAvoidlocking mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is segmented into two functional parts: a locking element that engages with the stent and a guidewire-retaining segment with a laterally breachable portion. This segmentation allows the locking function to be separated from the guidewire retention function, enabling independent operation of each feature and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is pre-configured to be disengaged by guidewire withdrawal alone, without requiring additional manual操作步骤. The laterally breachable portion is pre-designed to fail in a controlled manner when the guidewire is pulled back, automatically releasing the locking element and allowing stent deployment without extra procedural steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If additional steps are required to release locking mechanisms, then stent deployment control is improved, but procedural time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent deployment controlVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is designed to self-release through the mechanical action of guidewire withdrawal. The laterally breachable portion automatically fails under tensile load, causing the locking element to disengage without requiring any additional actions from the operator, thus eliminating time-consuming manual release steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If manual guidewire manipulation is required to disengage locking mechanisms, then locking control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking control precisionVSAvoidguidewire manipulation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring forward manipulation of the guidewire to engage or disengage the locking mechanism, the system is designed so that simple withdrawal (pulling back) of the guidewire triggers the release. This inversion of the expected operation direction simplifies the user action from complex manipulation to simple withdrawal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If the guidewire-retaining segment is made laterally breachable, then deployment simplicity is improved, but structural strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment simplicityVSAvoidguidewire-retaining segment strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guidewire-retaining segment is designed with non-uniform properties: most of the tube maintains normal wall thickness and strength, while only a specific laterally breachable portion has reduced strength. This localized weakness allows controlled failure at a specific location without compromising the overall structural integrity of the tube during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The laterally breachable portion is pre-weakened through design (reduced wall thickness or material strength) so that it fails at a predictable low force level during guidewire withdrawal. This preliminary preparation ensures that the breach occurs reliably at the intended moment without requiring excessive force that could damage other components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20230346582A1Stent-deployment assemblies with locking mechanisms and methods of assembly

Publication Date: 2023.11.02 ENDO GI MEDICAL LTD

AI summary

A stent-deployment assembly includes an elongated stent-conveyance tube comprising a hollow longitudinal lumen configured to have a guidewire traverse longitudinally therethrough. The stent is arranged to surround a first stent-conveyance tube segment and a pushing tube surrounds a second stent-conveyance tube segment that is proximally displaced from the first stent-conveyance tube segment. A first locking member is engaged with the elongated stent-conveyance tube, and a second locking member includes a first portion arranged to transversely traverse the pushing tube and a second portion constrained within an interior volume of the stent by the presence of the first locking member.