Umbrella Vena Cava Filter With Hook-Limiting Loops

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Solution Overview

Problem

Umbrella-type vena cava filters often cause damage to the vena cava wall due to transfixion and require precise alignment to maintain efficacy, leading to potential internal bleeding and reduced effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of anti-transfixion protection and centring branches in the filter design, including loops, zigzags, or undulations near the hooks, and varying branch lengths to prevent wall piercing and maintain alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If anchoring branches with outward-oriented hooks are used to anchor the filter in the vena cava wall, then the filter anchoring strength is improved, but the risk of transfixion and internal bleeding increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter anchoring strengthVSAvoidtransfixion and internal bleeding

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different geometric configurations to different parts of the anchoring branches. The distal portion features hooks for anchoring, while the proximal portion includes loops with specific diameter ranges (0.5-2.0 mm) that act as stop elements. This local differentiation allows the same component to provide both strong anchoring and protection against transfixion, resolving the contradiction between anchoring strength and harm prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the filter remains in the inferior vena cava for extended periods, then the filter continues to provide protection, but the transfixion rate increases correlating with duration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter protection durationVSAvoidtransfixion rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates loops as stop elements before the hooks can cause transfixion. These loops act as a pre-established protective mechanism that limits the penetration depth of the anchoring branches. By providing this protective feature in advance, the filter can remain in place for extended periods without increasing transfixion risk, thus resolving the contradiction between duration of protection and transfixion rate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If the filter is not correctly aligned with the local axis of the vena cava, then the filter may be easier to implant, but the efficacy of the filter is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter implantation easeVSAvoidfilter efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs anchoring branches with asymmetric geometries, including hooks oriented at specific angles and loops with predetermined dimensions. This asymmetry creates a self-aligning mechanism where the filter naturally orients itself correctly relative to the vena cava axis during implantation. The asymmetric design ensures proper alignment without requiring complex implantation procedures, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and filter efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS12447001B2Umbrella type filter with anti-transfixion protection

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 ALN

AI summary

The present invention concerns a filter (1) for a blood vessel, and in particular a vena cava filter, comprising at least two anchoring branches (11) for anchoring the filter in the wall of the blood vessel, the anchoring branches having a fixed end (111) and a free end (112), the fixed ends of the anchoring branches being fixed to one another and the free ends being terminated with a hook (113) oriented toward the outside, characterised in that each of the anchoring branches comprises an anti-transfixion protection (114).