Stent with Variable Strut Lengths for Uniform Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stents often face challenges in achieving uniform force distribution along their entire length, which can affect their efficacy and durability in vascular and other applications.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates transitional and symmetrical sections with varying strut lengths and circumferentially aligned or staggered peaks, along with uniform connector lengths, to ensure consistent scaffolding and stent-to-lumen ratio, enhancing force distribution and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a stent has uniform strut lengths throughout, then manufacturing is simpler, but force distribution along the stent length becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into multiple sections (distal end section with constant strut lengths, transitional sections with varying strut lengths, and proximal end section with constant strut lengths). This segmentation allows each section to have optimized strut characteristics for its specific function while maintaining overall force distribution uniformity along the stent length.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the stent have different strut length characteristics tailored to their specific requirements. The end sections have constant strut lengths for stability, while the transitional sections have variable strut lengths to gradually adjust the scaffolding ratio, creating local quality variations that achieve global force distribution uniformity.
2Reliability
If a stent has variable strut lengths to achieve uniform force distribution, then force distribution improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex variable strut length configuration is segmented into distinct sections (constant strut length sections at ends, transitional sections with varying lengths in between). This segmentation makes the complex design more manageable and manufacturable by clearly defining where transitions occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent structure transitions from static uniform strut lengths to dynamic variable strut lengths in the transitional sections. This dynamic variation in strut lengths allows the stent to achieve uniform force distribution while adapting the structural complexity only where necessary, rather than throughout the entire device.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a stent has constant scaffolding ratio throughout, then structural consistency is maintained, but adaptability to different lumen geometries decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The stent employs local quality variations in the transitional sections where strut lengths change to adapt to different lumen geometries at the ends, while maintaining constant scaffolding ratio in the middle section for structural consistency. This allows the stent to be adaptable where needed while maintaining stability where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The stent is segmented into regions with different scaffolding characteristics: end sections with variable scaffolding for adaptation and a middle section with constant scaffolding for consistency. This segmentation allows the stent to simultaneously achieve both adaptability and structural consistency in different regions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A stent having a transitional section positioned between a middle section with different struts lengths and circumferentially non-aligned peaks, and a symmetrical section that has equal strut lengths and circumferentially aligned peaks.