Stent Sleeve Deployment With Thread-Controlled Anti-Kinking Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices and delivery systems face challenges in effectively deploying stents and sleeves within body lumens, particularly in gastro-intestinal applications, due to issues such as kinking or bunching during deployment, and the need for alternative methods and materials to ensure proper positioning and support.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system comprising an outer and inner tubular member with a thread mechanism to maintain the stent and sleeve in a collapsed configuration, allowing for controlled deployment by unraveling the thread to expand the stent and sleeve to their desired configurations within the body lumen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the stent and sleeve are deployed using conventional delivery systems, then the deployment process is simple, but the risk of kinking or bunching during deployment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is pre-configured with a thread wrapped around the flexible portion and constrained by the outer tubular member in a compressed state before delivery. This preliminary configuration ensures that the implant maintains its intended geometry during delivery and prevents kinking or bunching upon deployment, while still allowing for simple operation through the threaded expansion mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The thread acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the implant structure. By wrapping the thread around the flexible portion and securing it to the rigid portion, the system provides controlled expansion that prevents direct manual manipulation from causing kinking, while maintaining ease of operation through thread unwrapping
2Volume of moving object
If the implant is constrained in a compressed configuration for delivery, then the delivery system size is reduced, but the complexity of the delivery system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is nested within the inner tubular member, which is itself contained within the outer tubular member. The thread passes through the inner tubular member's opening, creating a nested configuration that minimizes delivery system volume while maintaining structural integrity and preventing the need for complex external constraint mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is divided into distinct rigid and flexible portions, with the thread providing the connection and constraint mechanism. This segmentation allows the implant to be compressed for delivery while maintaining the ability to expand reliably, without requiring a complex monolithic delivery system structure
3Stability of the object's composition
If the thread is wrapped around the flexible portion to maintain collapsed configuration, then the implant maintains its shape during delivery, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The thread is pre-wrapped around the flexible portion and secured to the rigid portion during the manufacturing process. This preliminary action ensures the implant maintains its collapsed configuration and intended geometry during delivery, while the straightforward wrapping and securing process adds minimal complexity to manufacturing compared to alternative constraint mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A delivery system for delivering an implant having both a rigid portion and a flexible portion to a body lumen. The delivery system includes an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer tubular member. The inner tubular member includes at least one opening positioned in a side wall adjacent to a distal end region. An expandable implant, including a rigid portion and a flexible portion, is disposed about the outer surface of the inner tubular member. A distal portion of a thread is wrapped around the flexible portion of the implant and configured to maintain the flexible portion in a radially collapsed configuration during delivery of the implant. A distal end region of the outer tubular member is disposed around the rigid portion of the implant to maintain the rigid portion in a radially collapsed configuration during delivery of the implant.