Vein Filter Head Miniaturization via Segmented Leg Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of convertible vein filters is limited by the diameter of the collapsed filter head, which restricts their insertion into smaller catheters due to the need for additional connecting wires to maintain a closed structure in the stent configuration.
Innovation Solution
A vein filter design featuring primary and secondary filter legs, where secondary legs are connected to adjacent primary legs via wires near the filter head, reducing the number of connections needed and allowing the filter head to have smaller dimensions, enabling a reduced diameter in the collapsed state and efficient conversion to a stent configuration without increasing the filter's overall diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional connecting wires are added to maintain a closed structure in stent configuration, then the filter can be converted to stent configuration, but the diameter of the filter head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter legs are divided into two groups: primary filter legs that form the filter head, and secondary filter legs that are connected to primary legs. This segmentation allows the filter head to contain only primary legs, reducing its diameter, while secondary legs are attached nearby and connected via connecting wires to form the closed stent structure after filter head removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter head is extracted as a separate removable component that contains only the primary legs. After the filter head is removed, the secondary legs are already positioned and connected to primary legs via connecting wires, allowing the remaining structure to form a closed stent configuration without requiring the filter head to accommodate all legs.
2Device complexity
If all filter legs are grouped in the filter head, then the filter structure is simplified, but the diameter of the collapsed filter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter legs are segmented into primary legs (grouped in filter head) and secondary legs (connected to primary legs). This allows the filter head diameter to be determined only by the number of primary legs, reducing the collapsed filter diameter while maintaining structural integrity through the secondary leg connections.
3Reliability
If secondary filter legs are added to increase filtering capacity, then the filtering functionality is improved, but the number of connecting wires required increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing legs into primary and secondary groups with different connection strategies, the number of connecting wires is reduced. Secondary legs are connected to adjacent primary legs via fewer connecting wires compared to connecting all legs together, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining filtering functionality.
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
This design allows for a more compact collapsed state and reduced number of connecting wires, enabling the filter to be miniaturized and efficiently converted into a stent configuration, maintaining stability and filtering functionality while reducing the diameter of the filter head.
Implementation Method 1
The appropriate choice of material allows a secondary filter leg, disposed on a primary leg, to show a bend under the connection area so that the two legs form an angle in the deployed state.
Data Source
AI summary
A vein filter can switch from a collapsed state to a deployed filtering state and further from this filtering state to an open non-filtering state. The filter includes a plurality of primary filter legs and a plurality of secondary filter legs. The primary filter legs are grouped at one end in a common filter head. One secondary filter leg is connected to each of the primary filter legs in proximity of the filter head. Each secondary filter leg is connected to the adjacent primary leg to which it is not already fixed in proximity of the filter head by a connecting wire attached in the area of the free ends of the legs.