Vascular Filter Structure to Prevent Tilting and Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vascular filters suffer from tilting, perforation, migration, and reduced capture efficiency due to limited longitudinal support, leading to complications such as IVC perforation, migration, and increased risk of pulmonary embolism.
Innovation Solution
A vascular filter device with a stent-like support structure and filter elements that converge at an apex, featuring a longitudinal support design to minimize tilting, and a streamlined profile to enhance blood flow, optionally with integral or single-piece construction to reduce strain and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conical filter design is used, then the filter can be delivered through a catheter, but the filter is prone to tilting during deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is divided into multiple filter elements (at least three) that are independently connected to the support structure. This segmentation allows each element to be positioned and secured separately, preventing the overall filter from tilting while maintaining the conical shape needed for catheter delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter elements are pre-formed with their apexes pointing toward the inferior vena cava wall before deployment. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the filter is released from the catheter, the elements are already oriented to engage with the vessel wall, preventing tilting during the deployment process.
2Shape
If the filter elements are connected at the apex, then the filter maintains its shape, but strain is produced at the connection points
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is designed with varying properties along its length, with the proximal support having different mechanical characteristics than the distal support. This local differentiation allows the filter to maintain its conical shape while distributing strain away from any single connection point, reducing the risk of failure at the apex.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter elements and support structure are formed from composite or multi-material constructions that combine different material properties. This allows the filter to achieve both shape maintenance through rigid connections and strain reduction through flexible or damping materials at critical stress points.
3Strength
If the filter is constrained in a large vessel, then the filter elements experience high strain, but reducing strain requires smaller filter elements
Solution Approach 1:
The filter elements are designed with dynamic flexibility, allowing them to adapt their configuration based on vessel size. The elements can bend and flex within certain limits while maintaining their conical arrangement, enabling the same filter design to be used across different vessel diameters without producing excessive strain in any configuration.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the apex area is interconnected with coupling means, then the filter maintains structural integrity, but the interconnection creates thrombus formation risk
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling means at the apex are designed to be minimally invasive or removable. The filter elements are connected in a way that maintains structural integrity while creating minimal surface area for thrombus formation, or the coupling mechanism is temporarily present only during deployment and then removed or integrated into the vessel wall.
Data Source
AI summary
A vascular filter device (1) has a support frame (2) and filter elements (4). The filter elements (4) extend from the support frame towards filter element ends forming an on-axis apex (5) at which they are interconnected by a holder (6). The filter elements (4) are biased such that if unconnected the filter element ends are located between the support frame and said central axis when the vascular filter device is unconstrained. The filter element unconnected positions are provided by the filter element shapes and the angles at which they extend from the support frame, and in one example this is achieved by laser cutting tubing and heat setting the material.