Vascular Stent Wave Loop Segmentation for Flexibility

Solution Overview

Problem

Self-expanding vascular stents face challenges in achieving stability and flexibility to conform to complex vascular shapes without causing injury or deformation, particularly due to excessive deformation of disconnected wave crests and troughs, which affects adherence and structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

The vascular stent design incorporates a combination of restrained and non-contact, mutually-suspended connections between wave loops, with varying vertex angles and connection modes to optimize adherence and flexibility, allowing for axial tension to restrict extension and maintain shape stability during deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If more connection points are added between wave loops, then structural stability is improved, but flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The stent structure is segmented into multiple wave loops with differentiated connection modes. Each wave loop maintains independence through non-contact suspension at certain positions while being connected at other positions, allowing the structure to be divided into stable and flexible segments that work together

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different connection modes are applied to different locations of the stent structure. Some wave crests and troughs are fixedly connected to provide stability, while other wave crests and troughs are non-contact suspended to provide flexibility, creating local quality variations throughout the stent

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the stent is made more flexible to conform to vascular shape, then adaptability is improved, but structural stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The stent structure is segmented into multiple wave loops with differentiated connection modes. Each wave loop maintains independence through non-contact suspension at certain positions while being connected at other positions, allowing the structure to be divided into stable and flexible segments that work together

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different connection modes are applied to different locations of the stent structure. Some wave crests and troughs are fixedly connected to provide stability, while other wave crests and troughs are non-contact suspended to provide flexibility, creating local quality variations throughout the stent

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If disconnected wave crests and troughs are allowed to move freely, then flexibility is improved, but excessive deformation occurs causing injury risk

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidinjury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The stent structure is pre-configured with non-contact suspended connections between wave loops that allow controlled movement within safe limits. This preliminary arrangement ensures that during deployment, the wave crests and troughs can move to accommodate vascular shape but will not deform excessively to cause injury

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The non-contact suspended connection structure acts as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs and distributes deformation forces. When the stent is deployed, this structure allows gradual, controlled deformation rather than sudden excessive movement, protecting the vascular wall from injury

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS11497636B2Vascular stent

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 LIFETECH SCI (SHENZHEN) CO LTD

AI summary

A vascular stent (100) comprises a plurality of wave loops. In its natural state, in two of the wave loops which are adjacent in a group, a part of a wave crest of a lower layer wave loop are in a restrained connection with a part of a wave trough of an upper layer wave loop; the other part of the wave crest of the lower layer wave loop passes through the other part of the wave trough of the upper layer wave loop, and the other part of the wave crest and the other part of the wave trough are in a non-contact mutually-suspended connection. Some of the wave crests and wave troughs of the vascular stent (100) are in the non-contact mutually-suspended connection rather than the restrained connection, so that the maximum flexibility is provided to the stent, and meanwhile, the overall stability of the stent is guaranteed. The stent (100) can maintain a good shape during both implantation and the release process, so that safety during release is ensured.