Stretch Resistant Embolic Coil Delivery System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing catheter-based systems for deploying embolic coils within the human body face challenges in accurately placing and releasing stretch-resistant coils in tortuous vasculature, particularly in the brain, due to limitations in detachment mechanisms and coil stability during deployment.

Innovation Solution

A vascular occlusive embolic device deployment system featuring a flexible catheter, a pusher member with a lumen, and a stretch-resistant member attached to the coil, utilizing an engagement member with an aperture and a detachment member to securely hold and release the coil at a predetermined site within a vessel, ensuring precise placement and minimizing coil stretching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a stretch-resistant embolic coil is used to maintain structural integrity during delivery, then coil stability is improved, but the coil cannot be accurately released at the target site

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil stabilityVSAvoidplacement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the embolic coil into two functional segments: a stretch-resistant portion (maintained in its original configuration) and a compliant portion (capable of stretching). This segmentation allows the coil to maintain structural integrity during delivery while enabling accurate release at the target site through the compliant section's ability to deform and engage with the delivery catheter's release mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the embolic coil are given different mechanical properties: the proximal portion is made stretch-resistant to maintain stability during delivery, while the distal portion is made compliant to enable accurate release and positioning at the target site. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between overall stability and precise placement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If conventional detachment mechanisms are used to release the coil, then release is achieved, but coil position accuracy deteriorates due to stretching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelease mechanismVSAvoidcoil position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detachment mechanism is designed to interact specifically with the compliant distal portion of the coil rather than the entire coil structure. This localized interaction allows the release mechanism to function effectively while the stretch-resistant proximal portion maintains the coil's overall position accuracy and prevents unwanted stretching during the release process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the coil is made compliant to facilitate release, then detachment is easier, but coil structural integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetachment easeVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The embolic coil is segmented into stretch-resistant and compliant portions, allowing the compliant section to facilitate easy detachment while the stretch-resistant section maintains structural integrity. This segmentation enables both easy operation and strength to coexist in different parts of the same device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different mechanical properties are applied locally to different portions of the coil: the distal portion is made compliant to facilitate detachment, while the proximal portion maintains stretch-resistance to preserve structural integrity. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of detachment and structural strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP1738696B1Stretch resistant embolic coil delivery system with mechanical release mechanism
Publication Date: 2008.08.20 CORDIS NEUROVASCULAR INC
  • EP1738696B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1738696B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP1738696B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C

AI summary

A medical device for placing an embolic device at a predetermined site within a vessel of the body including a delivery catheter and a flexible pusher member having a lumen therethrough and being slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter. A stretch resistant embolic device is retained within the delivery catheter by a mechanical interlocking mechanism which includes an engagement member which is slidably disposed within the pusher member and extends through a retaining ring at the proximal end of the embolic device. A detachment member extends through an aperture at the distal end of the engagement member thereby locking the embolic device onto the engagement member. The engagement member engages a retaining ring on the embolic device. When the embolic device is advanced to the predetermined site within the vessel, the detachment member is withdrawn from the aperture to thereby release the embolic device at the treatment site.