Tethered Cage Aneurysm Neck Bridging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for aneurysms and acute stroke, such as stent placement and thrombolytic therapy, face challenges including incomplete recanalization, hemorrhagic risks, and embolic complications, with existing devices like the Merci clot retriever being effective in only 50% of cases and requiring multiple passes, and traditional stents causing intimal injury and negative remodeling.

Innovation Solution

A catheter-based system with a tethered cage-like structure that bridges the aneurysm neck, allowing for coil embolization without risking vessel occlusion, and a revascularization device that can be deployed in constricted vessels to compact emboli and maintain perfusion, using a combination of microcatheters, guidewires, and self-expanding nitinol devices for enhanced access and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional stents are placed to reconstruct vessel wall, then aneurysm neck bridging is achieved, but intimal injury and negative remodeling occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaneurysm neck bridging effectivenessVSAvoidintimal injury and negative remodeling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into multiple segments including a delivery catheter, a self-expanding cage structure, and detachable components. The cage structure itself is segmented into multiple bars that can expand independently, allowing gradual deployment and reducing trauma to the vessel wall compared to traditional stents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cage structure undergoes parameter changes from a compressed delivery state to an expanded functional state. The self-expanding mechanism transforms the device from a low-profile delivery configuration to a high-profile support structure, achieving aneurysm neck bridging without requiring high-pressure balloon inflation that causes intimal injury.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If Merci clot retriever is used for acute stroke, then embolus removal is attempted, but recanalization succeeds in only 50% of cases requiring multiple passes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveembolus removal efficiencyVSAvoidmultiple passes required

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device extracts the embolus through a different mechanism than traditional retrievers. The self-expanding cage structure envelops the embolus and extracts it through mechanical compaction against the vessel wall, followed by retrieval through the catheter, achieving removal in a single pass rather than requiring multiple attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cage structure acts as an intermediary between the catheter and the embolus. It provides a mechanical interface that compacts the embolus against the vessel wall and facilitates its extraction, serving as a mediator that improves embolus removal efficiency compared to direct catheter-based retrieval methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If flow arrest is performed during aneurysm treatment, then coil embolization safety is improved, but vessel occlusion risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoil embolization safetyVSAvoidvessel occlusion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cage structure provides dynamic support to the aneurysm neck, maintaining vessel patency while allowing controlled flow modulation. The self-expanding bars dynamically adapt to blood flow forces, providing structural support without complete flow arrest, thereby enabling coil embolization with reduced vessel occlusion risk compared to traditional flow arrest techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 system enables effective revascularization and embolus removal with reduced risk of hemorrhage and embolic complications, maintaining blood flow and allowing for the use of supplemental therapies, improving recanalization rates and patient outcomes by providing a re-constrainable and retrievable solution for aneurysm treatment.

Implementation Method 1

a tethered cage-like structure which is effective for being emplaced proximate to the neck of an aneurysm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic memory: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

self-expanding nitinol devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory alloy: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 3

deployment impacts the embolus, compacting the same into luminal walls which enables perfusion and lysis of the embolus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Implementation Method 4

catheter-based system with a tethered cage-like structure that bridges the aneurysm neck

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS8926680B2Aneurysm neck bridging processes with revascularization systems methods and products thereby

Publication Date: 2015.01.06 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

Devices, methods and systems facilitate and enable vessel wall treatment, particularly at the neck of an aneurysm. A tethered cage-like structure functions in conjunction with supplemental therapies such as a vaso-occlusive coil delivering microcatheter system and/or pharmaceutical delivery, among other things, by stabilizing vessel walls and providing tethered cage-like therapeutic support for treating aneurysms, temporarily or on an implantable basis.