Toroidal Occlusion Balloon for Aortic Side Branch Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional occlusion balloons used in medical vascular procedures often require high inflation pressures to achieve hemostasis, which can lead to aortic dissection, false lumen creation, and hemorrhage due to excessive stress on the aortic wall, posing a risk of severe internal bleeding and death.
Innovation Solution
A toroidal compliant balloon system that conforms to the interior walls of blood vessels with low pressure, allowing minimal occlusion of side branches while maintaining blood flow through the main vessel, using tether elements for fluid communication and inflation, and featuring a design that minimizes the risk of over-distending the aorta.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional spherical occlusion balloons are used to achieve hemostasis, then blood flow can be stopped, but high inflation pressures cause aortic dissection and false lumen creation
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is divided into multiple independent sealing zones around the aorta, each capable of occluding side branches separately. This segmentation allows selective occlusion of individual vessels without requiring excessive pressure to occlude all vessels simultaneously, thereby reducing the risk of aortic dissection while maintaining reliable hemostasis.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the balloon have different compliance characteristics - some areas are more compliant to conform to the aortic wall, while other areas provide firmer sealing. This local differentiation allows the balloon to achieve effective occlusion at lower pressures, avoiding the harmful effects of high pressure on the aortic wall.
2Stability of the object's composition
If high inflation pressure is applied to spherical balloons, then migration is prevented, but stress on the aorta increases causing hemorrhage
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design allows the balloon to achieve stability through distributed contact points around the aorta rather than relying on a single high-pressure seal. Each segment contributes to overall stability while operating at lower individual pressures, preventing hemorrhage while maintaining balloon position.
Solution Approach 2:
The toroidal (ring-shaped) geometry provides natural curvature that conforms to the aortic wall, creating multiple contact points around the circumference. This curved design achieves stability through geometric distribution rather than high pressure, reducing stress on the aorta and preventing hemorrhage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If spherical balloons are over-inflated to anchor against aortic walls, then fixation is achieved, but the aorta is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon material properties are changed to be more compliant and elastic, allowing the balloon to expand and contract with the aortic wall movements. This parameter change enables the balloon to achieve fixation through gentle conforming action rather than aggressive over-inflation, preserving aortic wall integrity while maintaining stable positioning.
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 toroidal balloon system effectively occludes side branches with minimal pressure, reducing the risk of aortic dissection and hemorrhage, allowing for safer hemostasis and maintaining unobstructed blood flow through the main vessel, thus providing a more controlled and safer surgical environment.
Implementation Method 1
A compliant toroidal balloon will conform to the interior walls of a blood vessel, such as the aorta, so as to occlude one or more target side branches with minimum or low pressure
Implementation Method 2
One, or a plurality of the tethers can contain lumens which will provide fluid communication for liquid contrast media, saline, or other suitable liquid to expand compliant balloon
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary occlusion and molding devices and methods involve the use of an expandable balloon. Methods of sealing an aortic side branch in a patient can include advancing an occlusion device within the aorta, positioning a toroidal balloon of the occlusion device adjacent to the aortic side branch, and inflating the balloon to prevent peripheral blood flow from the aorta into the aortic side branch while a central aperture of the balloon allows descending aortic blood flow therethrough. Methods of molding a stent against an interior surface of a vessel of a patient can include advancing a molding device within the vessel, positioning a toroidal balloon of the molding device at least partially withing the stent, and inflating the balloon to exert force to the stent thus dilating the stent and molding it to the interior of the vessel while a central aperture of the balloon allows blood flow therethrough.