Endoluminal Stent Sinusoidal Ringlets Offset Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoluminal stents face challenges in achieving a balance among functional attributes such as radial crush resistance, flexibility, and foreshortening, often compromising on one attribute for another, and may exhibit low resistance to axial compressive forces, leading to axial distortion and risk of fatigue fracture.
Innovation Solution
The endoluminal stent features sinusoidal-shaped expandable ringlets connected by non-linear, asymmetrical offset connectors, providing uniform stress distribution, high flexibility, and resistance to longitudinal compression, while minimizing stress concentration and twisting of ringlets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional mesh or non-mesh stent designs are used, then radial crush resistance is improved, but longitudinal compression resistance deteriorates leading to axial distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is segmented into multiple interconnected undulating rings with intermediate struts, creating a modular structure that distributes axial compressive forces across multiple elements rather than concentrating them in a single continuous mesh pattern
Solution Approach 2:
The undulating rings feature curved, sinusoidal geometries that provide inherent resistance to longitudinal compression while maintaining radial strength, eliminating the need to compromise axial stability for radial support
2Ease of operation
If stent flexibility is improved for better deliverability, then ease of operation is improved, but longitudinal compression resistance deteriorates causing foreshortening
Solution Approach 1:
The stent structure incorporates dynamic undulating ring configurations that allow controlled deformation during delivery while maintaining structural integrity under compression, enabling the stent to adapt its shape without permanent foreshortening
Solution Approach 2:
The stent design changes the geometric parameters of the ring structures and their interconnections to optimize the balance between flexibility for delivery and resistance to compression-induced foreshortening during expansion
3Strength
If radial recoil after expansion is improved for lumen patency, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The functions of radial support, longitudinal stability, and controlled expansion are merged into the integrated undulating ring structure with intermediate struts, achieving multiple performance goals without proportionally increasing complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
An endoluminal stent (100) is described herein. In an embodiment, the endoluminal stent (100) includes a plurality of sinusoidal-shaped expandable ringlets (102) provided in parallel to form a tubular structure of the endoluminal stent (100). Further, adjacent ringlets (102) can be connected to each other by one or more asymmetrical offset connectors (108), the offset connectors (108) being non-linear in structure.