Stent Retaining Element for Bifurcation Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stent delivery systems face challenges in accurately positioning stents in vascular bifurcations, particularly in T-junctions and V-junctions with angles less than 70°, leading to protrusion into the main vessel and potential thrombi formation, which complicates further stenting and increases the risk of vascular occlusion.
Innovation Solution
A stent with a retaining element, connected to a guide wire, is passed through opposing meshes at the proximal end, allowing precise placement by spreading open after catheter release, ensuring the stent is positioned correctly at the bifurcation, and is removable post-placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional stent delivery systems are used, then the stent can be delivered to the bifurcation, but positioning accuracy deteriorates leading to protrusion into the main vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element is pre-assembled with the stent and delivered together through the catheter. Before stent deployment, the retaining element is positioned to extend beyond the proximal end of the stent, preemptively preventing protrusion into the main vessel. This preliminary positioning action ensures accurate placement at the bifurcation before the stent is expanded.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element acts as an intermediary component between the stent and the delivery system. It provides a mechanical interface that allows the operator to control stent positioning independently from the delivery catheter, enabling precise placement at the bifurcation while preventing main vessel protrusion through its extended configuration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the stent is positioned to prevent protrusion, then thrombi formation is reduced, but the delivery system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stent system is segmented into two independent components: the stent itself and the retaining element. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the stent for vessel support and the retaining element for positioning control - while maintaining relative simplicity in the design of each individual component.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element is designed as a temporary component that is discarded after serving its positioning function. Once the stent is successfully positioned and deployed, the retaining element is removed from the body, eliminating the need for complex permanent retention structures and reducing long-term device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the retaining element is made of wire, then ease of manufacture is improved, but strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameters of the retaining element can be adjusted within a range of options including wire, plastic, or other materials with sufficient rigidity. By changing material parameters such as cross-sectional dimensions, alloy composition, or structural geometry, the retaining element achieves the necessary strength while maintaining ease of manufacture through selection of suitable materials like medical grade steel or nitinol.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element may utilize composite material structures or combinations of materials with sufficient rigidity to provide both mechanical strength and manufacturability. This allows optimization of the strength-to-manufacturing-complexity ratio by selecting materials that balance ease of fabrication with adequate mechanical performance for the positioning function.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a stent (12) for positioning in the bifurcation (14) of a blood vessel (16), the stent (12) comprising a plurality of meshes (10), a distal (18) and a proximal end (20), characterized in that the stent comprises a retaining element (22), said retaining element being led through opposite meshes (10) at the proximal end (20) of the stent (12).