Adjustable Stent Mandrel With Tapered Pin Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Forming anti-migration features in stents can be difficult to achieve accurately and repeatedly, which is crucial for anchoring the stent in body lumens effectively.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable mandrel with a tapered surface and movable pins is used to form anti-migration features in stents, allowing the pins to extend radially outward and be actuated to create the necessary features in the stent structure, facilitating accurate and consistent formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional mandrels are used to form anti-migration features, then the stent can be manufactured, but the formation of anti-migration features is difficult to achieve accurately and repeatedly
Solution Approach 1:
The mandrel incorporates movable pins that can be dynamically positioned and actuated during the stent forming process. These pins extend radially outward from the mandrel body and can be selectively actuated to form anti-migration features, allowing the mandrel to adapt to different stent configurations and achieve accurate, repeatable feature formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mandrel is segmented into distinct functional components including the mandrel body, multiple movable pins, and an actuation mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the pins forming anti-migration features while the actuation mechanism controls their positioning, thereby improving manufacturing precision and repeatability.
2Manufacturing precision
If movable pins are added to the mandrel to improve feature formation accuracy, then manufacturing precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable pins serve multiple functions: they act as forming elements for anti-migration features, can be repositioned for different feature locations, and can be actuated in a controlled manner. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining improved manufacturing precision.
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 mandrel enables precise and repeatable formation of anti-migration features, enhancing the stent's ability to anchor within body lumens, improving its positioning and stability.
Implementation Method 1
an actuation element engagable with the bore extending within the mandrel body and including a tapered surface configured to engage the one or more movable pins, the actuation element being actuatable relative to the mandrel body such that the tapered surface supports the one or more movable pins extended from the one or more apertures
Data Source
AI summary
A mandrel for forming a stent with a tapered profile and one or more anti-migration features includes a first stent shaping segment having a first diameter, a second stent shaping segment having a second diameter less than the first diameter and a tapered segment disposed therebetween. A third stent shaping segment is releasably securable to the second stent shaping segment and has a third diameter greater than the second diameter. One or more movable pins are outwardly extendable from corresponding apertures formed within the tapered segment. An actuation element is engagable with the first stent shaping segment and includes a tapered surface configured to engage the one or more movable pins and support the one or more movable pins extended from the corresponding apertures.