Stretch Resistant Embolic Coil With Undulating Fiber
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vasoocclusive coils face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and flexibility during deployment and potential repositioning within blood vessels, leading to uncontrollable stretching and difficulties in precise placement and retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A helically wound embolic coil with a stretch resistant fiber extending through its lumen, featuring periodic undulations and attachments at multiple points, coupled with a deployment system using fluid pressure to release the coil from the catheter, allowing for repositioning and flexibility post-deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional embolic coil is used without a stretch resistant member, then the coil is simple in structure and easy to deploy, but the coil cannot prevent stretching during retrieval or repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The stretch resistant member is nested within the lumen of the embolic coil, with the distal end of the stretch resistant member attached to the distal end of the coil and the proximal end attached to the proximal end of the coil. This nested configuration prevents stretching of the coil during retrieval or repositioning while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the stretch resistant member is firmly attached at multiple points along the coil, then stretching is prevented, but the coil loses flexibility and cannot take on secondary shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The stretch resistant member is attached to the embolic coil at multiple discrete attachment points along its length, rather than being continuously constrained. This segmentation allows the coil to maintain structural stability while preserving flexibility between attachment points, enabling the coil to take on secondary shapes after deployment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the coil is made more flexible for easy deployment, then the coil can navigate vasculature easily, but the coil becomes prone to stretching and losing its shape during retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The stretch resistant member is nested within the lumen of the embolic coil, providing internal structural support that prevents stretching and shape loss during retrieval or repositioning, while the coil itself maintains its flexibility for easy deployment and navigation through vasculature.
4Reliability
If a stretch resistant member is added to prevent stretching, then shape control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stretch resistant member is nested within the lumen of the embolic coil, utilizing the existing coil structure rather than adding external components. This approach improves shape control while minimizing increases in overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables precise placement, repositioning, and retrieval of the embolic coil by preventing uncontrollable stretching and allowing the coil to take on a secondary shape after deployment, while maintaining structural integrity and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a stretch resistant fiber extending through the lumen of the embolic coil... preventing uncontrollable stretching
Implementation Method 2
a deployment system using fluid pressure to release the coil from the catheter
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A vasoocclusive embolic device deployment system for use in placing an embolic device at a preselected site within a vessel. The system comprises an elongated flexible delivery catheter having proximal and distal sections and a lumen extending therethrough; an elongated flexible deployment catheter having proximal and distal sections and a lumen extending therethrough and being slidably disposed within the lumen of the elongated flexible delivery catheter; an embolic coil having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough; a stretch resistant fiber having periodic undulations along at least a portion of the length of the fiber interspersed between straight portions and having proximal and distal ends, said stretch resistant fiber extending through the lumen of the embolic coil, said distal end of said stretch resistant fiber being attached to the distal end of the embolic coil, said proximal end of said stretch resistant fiber being attached to the proximal end of the embolic coil; a headpiece mounted on the proximal end of the embolic coil and being disposed in a fluid tight engagement within the lumen of the distal section of the deployment catheter; and, a source of fluid pressure coupled to the proximal section of the deployment catheter for applying a fluid pressure to the lumen of said deployment catheter for releasing the embolic coil from the deployment catheter.