Stent Plaque Capture Mesh with Compliant Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical stents face challenges in maintaining patency of blood vessels while minimizing plaque dislodgement and ensuring adequate blood flow to side branches.
Innovation Solution
The medical stent features an expandable structure with a compliant layer that adapts its thickness and void size in response to vessel wall contact, allowing for reduced plaque dislodgement and maintained blood flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the stent maintains a constant relaxed outer diameter along all portions after deployment, then structural stability is improved, but plaque dislodgement increases due to uniform compression against vessel walls
Solution Approach 1:
The stent applies different outer diameter characteristics to different portions: the first portion maintains the relaxed outer diameter for structural stability, while the second portion reduces to a compressed outer diameter less than the relaxed outer diameter to minimize plaque dislodgement during deployment. This local differentiation allows each portion to optimize its function based on its specific deployment conditions.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the stent compresses uniformly along all portions to reduce outer diameter, then plaque dislodgement is reduced, but blood flow to side branches is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The stent implements localized compression characteristics: the second portion compresses to a reduced outer diameter to minimize plaque dislodgement, while the third portion maintains the relaxed outer diameter to preserve adequate blood flow to side branches. This spatially differentiated design allows the stent to simultaneously address plaque stabilization and side branch perfusion requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If the compliant layer maintains constant thickness, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to vessel wall contact is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compliant layer transitions from a static, uniform thickness design to a dynamic structure where the thickness varies along the longitudinal axis. The first compliant layer portion has a first thickness while the second compliant layer portion has a second thickness different from the first, allowing the layer to adapt its compression characteristics to different deployment conditions along the stent length.
Solution Approach 2:
The compliant layer is designed with spatially varying thickness: thicker portions provide greater compliance and plaque capture capability where needed, while thinner portions maintain structural integrity and blood flow. This local differentiation of thickness allows the single-layer structure to exhibit region-specific mechanical properties.
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 effectively reduces plaque dislodgement and maintains blood flow to side branches by adapting its structure in response to vessel wall contact, enhancing its performance in maintaining vascular patency.
Implementation Method 1
The expandable structure moves to a reduced outer diameter less than the relaxed outer diameter along portions of the expandable structure that are compressed by contact with vessel walls after deployment
Implementation Method 2
the voids have a first average size when the expandable structure retains its relaxed configuration, and the voids have a second average size less than the first average size when the expandable structure is compressed to the reduced outer diameter
Implementation Method 3
the loops that extend radially outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the medical stent may be adapted to fold over in response to being compressed by contact with the vessel wall
Data Source
AI summary
A medical stent includes an expandable structure that is moveable between a collapsed configuration for delivery and an expanded configuration for deployment, the expandable structure in the expanded configuration defining a relaxed diameter. The expandable structure retains its relaxed diameter along portions of the expandable structure that are not constrained by contact with vessel walls after deployment. Portions of the expandable structure that are compressed by contact with vessel walls after deployment are caused to move to a reduced diameter less than the relaxed diameter along portions. The compressed portions of the expandable structure may help prevent plaque from breaking loose. Uncompressed portions of the expandable structure may allow blood flow therethrough.