Stent Delivery Retainer Interdigitating Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical device delivery systems face challenges in achieving high accuracy and control during the deployment of medical endoprostheses, such as stents, within body lumens, particularly in maintaining precise positioning and minimizing potential energy storage during release.

Innovation Solution

The system incorporates an inner and outer member with a retainer that interdigitates with the medical endoprosthesis, allowing for controlled deployment by moving the outer member proximally while maintaining the retainer's position to prevent distal movement of the stent, utilizing materials like polymers, metals, and shape-memory alloys for enhanced control and visibility with radiopaque or MRI-visible materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a conventional delivery system is used, then the device can be delivered to the target location, but the positioning accuracy and control during deployment are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcontrol during deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery system is divided into multiple functional segments: an outer member for positioning, an inner member for deployment control, and a medical endoprosthesis for implantation. Each segment can be independently controlled to achieve precise positioning and controlled deployment, resolving the contradiction between positioning accuracy and operational control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner member acts as an intermediary between the outer member and the medical endoprosthesis. It receives positional information from the outer member and translates it into controlled deployment actions, enabling both accurate positioning and controlled operation through this intermediate control mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the outer member is moved proximally to release the stent, then the stent can engage the lumen wall, but potential energy may be stored during the release process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent engagement reliabilityVSAvoidpotential energy storage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is pre-configured to interdigitate with the medical endoprosthesis in a controlled manner before deployment. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the outer member is moved proximally, the retainer releases the stent in a controlled sequence, enabling reliable engagement while minimizing unintended energy storage through proper pre-positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If radiopaque or MRI-visible materials are used in the retainer, then the operator can track the device location, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice location trackingVSAvoidmaterial composition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Radiopaque or MRI-visible materials are incorporated into the retainer to provide visual contrast and detectability during imaging procedures. This allows the operator to track the device location without requiring complex electronic systems or multiple components, thus improving detectability while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through the use of inherently detectable materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

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

This approach enables precise and controlled deployment of medical endoprostheses with reduced potential energy storage, enhancing the accuracy and control of stent placement within the body lumen, ensuring effective engagement with the lumen wall.

Implementation Method 1

the inner member has a portion that extends outwardly (e.g., a retainer) so that it can be partially disposed over the implantable medical endoprosthesis and so that it can interdigitate with the implantable medical endoprosthesis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInterdigitating mechanism:

Implementation Method 2

one or more radiopaque materials and/or one or more MRI-visible materials can be used to form the portion of the medical endoprosthesis delivery system that interdigitates with the implantable medical endoprosthesis delivery system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiopacity: