Vascular Prosthesis Fenestrations for Branch Vessel Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vascular prostheses face challenges in reliably supporting blood vessel walls near branches without blocking them, particularly due to the need for precise positioning and alignment of fenestrated grafts, which is difficult and prone to blood leakage.

Innovation Solution

A vascular prosthesis system with defined perforation areas containing holes of specific diameters and closed edges, allowing for vascular support insertion while ensuring blood supply to branches and reliable sealing, using a combination of material design and agents influencing blood flow properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional cylindrical grafts are used to support the vessel wall, then the vessel wall is supported, but the branch vessels are blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevessel wall supportVSAvoidbranch vessel patency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The graft is segmented with fenestrations (openings) at specific locations corresponding to branch vessels. These fenestrations allow the graft to selectively support the main vessel wall while maintaining patency of branch vessels by creating dedicated passages for blood flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The graft has different structural qualities at different locations: the body of the graft provides structural support, while specific fenestrated regions provide localized passage for branch vessels. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of vessel wall support and branch patency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If fenestrated vascular prostheses are used to allow branch passage, then branch vessels can be supplied, but precise positioning and alignment are required which is difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebranch vessel supplyVSAvoidpositioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fenestrations are pre-formed in the graft at specific locations and orientations before implantation. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex intraoperative alignment procedures, as the graft is already configured to match the anatomical positions of branch vessels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The graft design integrates multiple functions: structural support, branch vessel supply, and self-alignment capabilities. The fenestrations are designed to automatically align with branch vessels upon deployment, reducing the need for precise manual positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If fenestrated vascular prostheses are used to allow branch passage, then branch vessels can be supplied, but reliable sealing at the prosthesis edges is difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebranch vessel supplyVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The graft material includes flexible sealing elements or membranes that can conform to the vessel wall and branch ostia. These flexible structures create reliable seals at the fenestrations and graft edges, preventing blood leakage while maintaining branch patency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Ease of manufacture

If the mesh size of the vascular prosthesis material is increased to facilitate balloon expansion, then expansion is easier, but blood leakage and flow past the prosthesis increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveballoon expansionVSAvoidblood leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The graft has different mesh sizes at different locations: larger mesh size in regions requiring balloon expansion and smaller mesh size in regions requiring sealing. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of expandability and leakage prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3169274B1Vascular prosthesis system and production method of the vascular prosthesis
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 JOTEC
  • EP3169274B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3169274B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3169274B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The present invention relates to a vascular prosthesis system (50), comprising at least a vascular prosthesis (1) for insertion into a blood vessel of a human body, and to a method for producing the vascular prosthesis system. The vascular prosthesis (1) has in the vascular prosthesis material (12) at least one perforated region (10) with at least one hole (100) between the proximal (3) and the distal end (4), the at least one hole (100) having a closed, continuous border (102).