Stepped Balloon Catheter for Branching Vessel Stent Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing balloon catheters face challenges in precisely placing and expanding stents in branching vessels and shunts, particularly at vascular bifurcations, requiring multiple steps and separate balloons, which is inefficient and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A balloon catheter with a stepped design featuring areas of different diameters, allowing for stepwise expansion, including a larger proximal area and smaller distal area, and potentially a middle section, to accommodate varying vessel diameters and facilitate precise stent placement and adaptation in branching vessels and shunts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate balloons are used for stepwise widening in branching vessels, then precise stent placement and adaptation to varying vessel diameters is achieved, but the procedural complexity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent placement precisionVSAvoidprocedural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The balloon catheter is divided into multiple inflation zones along its length, each zone capable of being inflated to different diameters. This segmentation allows the single catheter to perform the function of multiple separate balloons, enabling stepwise widening and precise stent placement in branching vessels without requiring multiple separate devices or procedural steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon catheter is designed with multi-functional capability to handle various vessel configurations through a single device. The balloon can be inflated in different zones to different diameters, allowing it to adapt to main branches, side branches, and varying vessel diameters, thereby replacing the need for multiple specialized balloons and simplifying the overall procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate balloons are used for stepwise widening, then adaptation to narrowing vessel diameters is achieved, but the time required for the procedure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel diameter adaptationVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon catheter enables continuous adaptation to varying vessel diameters through its segmented inflation zones. By inflating different zones to appropriate diameters, the catheter can continuously adapt to the vessel geometry without requiring removal and replacement of multiple separate balloons, thereby reducing procedural time while maintaining precise diameter adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If a single balloon is used for stent placement in branching vessels, then procedural simplicity is maintained, but precise adaptation to varying vessel diameters and stent configurations is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedural simplicityVSAvoidstent expansion precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different zones of the balloon catheter can be inflated to different diameters according to the specific requirements of each vessel segment. This local quality approach allows precise adaptation to varying vessel diameters and stent configurations in different locations, maintaining procedural simplicity while achieving high expansion precision where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Manufacturing precision

If several separate balloons are used for TIPS stent placement, then precise fit into the shunt is achieved, but the risk of over-expansion and loss of flow regulation control increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestent fit precisionVSAvoidflow regulation control

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon catheter with segmented inflation zones allows for controlled, progressive expansion with the ability to adjust inflation in different zones independently. This provides feedback control over the expansion process, enabling precise fit into the shunt while maintaining control over flow regulation and preventing over-expansion that could compromise regulatory function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11642499B2Balloon catheter

Publication Date: 2023.05.09 BENTLEY INNOMED GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a balloon catheter, in particular for the widening of stents in fenestrations and for T-branch protheses, being provided with a balloon (4), a supply line in the catheter (2) leading to the balloon (4), which allows the balloon (4) to be pressurized, and a central lumen (3) for a guidewire, with the balloon (4) in the expanded state having at least two areas (P, D, M) of different diameter, with these areas merging into one another by forming a step.