Stent Marker Using Fitted Pipes for X-Ray Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for applying gold plating or gold foil on stent main wires for position confirmation during stent placement are cumbersome and costly, with a high risk of separation under blood flow, and require precise fine operations.
Innovation Solution
A marker system using a pipe made of a recognizable material, such as stainless steel, fitted to the zigzag-shaped turn-back section and vicinity of the stent main wire, which serves as a stable X-ray non-transmission section without the need for gold plating or foil, securely holding the stent main wires together.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gold plating or gold foil is applied onto part of the stent main wire or strut to create an X-ray non-transmission section (marker), then the position of the stent can be recognized by X-ray imaging, but the operation becomes very fine and troublesome with poor operability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the gold plating or gold foil from the stent main wire or strut and places it into a separate pipe structure. This pipe is then fitted onto the stent wire, creating a marker that is easier to manufacture and assemble while maintaining the X-ray non-transmission property for position recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe acts as an intermediary component that carries the gold plating or gold foil and attaches it to the stent wire. This intermediary structure simplifies the manufacturing process by separating the marker creation from the stent wire fabrication, making the overall operation easier and more reliable.
2Ease of operation
If gold plating or gold foil is applied onto the entire stent or strut to improve operability, then the operation becomes easier, but the cost increases and separation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies gold plating or gold foil only to specific localized sections of the pipe rather than the entire stent or strut. This localized application maintains ease of operation while reducing material cost and minimizing the surface area prone to separation, thereby improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe structure creates an asymmetric configuration where the gold plating is concentrated in specific regions rather than uniformly distributed. This asymmetric placement optimizes both operability and reliability by focusing the marker function where needed while reducing overall separation risk.
3Reliability
If a pipe is used to protect the gold plating or gold foil to prevent separation, then the marker function is maintained, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the protective pipe function with the marker function into a single integrated component. The pipe both protects the gold plating from separation and serves as the X-ray non-transmission marker itself, eliminating the need for separate protective structures and reducing overall device complexity.
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 marker system allows for easy and reliable position confirmation of the stent within the human body using X-ray imaging or MRI, reducing operational complexity and cost while preventing pipe separation, ensuring stable marker function and high safety.
Implementation Method 1
a pipe, which is made of a raw material which can be recognized by a recognition means is fitted to a zigzag-shaped turn-back section of the stent main wire
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A marker formed on a stent which is to be mounted within a human body, the marker being formed without applying gold plating or gold foil onto the stent and allowing the position of the stent in the human body to be confirmed by a recognition means. A marker (A, B) used to confirm the position in a human body of a stent (C) consisting of wires is formed by fitting pipes (10-12), which consist of a raw material which can be recognized by a recognition means, on a portion at which at least two wires constituting the stent (C) are located close to each other. The stent (C) comprises a stent main wire (1) formed in a zigzag pattern, and the pipes (10-12) are fitted to zigzag-shaped turn-back sections (E) of the stent main wire (1).