Venous Stent Anchoring Features for Migration Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stent designs are inadequate for large and varying venous lumens, often leading to improper placement and migration due to compressive/expansive forces, especially in the venous system where blood vessels increase in size downstream.
Innovation Solution
Stents with outwardly facing protruding features that anchor securely within the vessel wall, reducing the need for the frame to provide anchoring, allowing for high flexibility, radial forces, large diameter, and long length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional stent designs are used, then the stent structure is simple, but the stent placement is improper and migration occurs due to compressive/expansive forces
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into multiple sections with different characteristics: a proximal section with protruding features for anchoring, a middle section for providing radial force, and a distal section for engagement. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall structural integrity and preventing migration.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the stent are given different local qualities and functions. The proximal section has protruding features for anchoring against migration, the middle section provides radial force to maintain lumen patency, and the distal section engages with the vessel wall. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by making each region optimized for its specific purpose.
2Reliability
If the stent frame provides anchoring, then the stent can be secured, but the flexibility and radial forces are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stent frame is segmented into functional zones: the proximal section includes protruding features for anchoring, while the middle and distal sections are designed to provide radial force and flexibility. This segmentation allows the anchoring function to be separated from the radial force generation, resolving the contradiction between security and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring function is extracted from the main stent frame and implemented through separate protruding features on the proximal section. This extraction allows the main frame to optimize its radial force and flexibility characteristics while the protruding features handle the anchoring requirement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the stent is designed for high flexibility and large diameter, then it can accommodate varying venous lumens, but the anchoring capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is segmented into a proximal section with protruding features for anchoring and a middle/distal section for providing radial force and flexibility. This segmentation enables the stent to simultaneously achieve high adaptability to varying lumens through its flexible middle section while maintaining reliable anchoring through the protruding features on the proximal section.
Data Source
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AI summary
A stent (100) can include outwardly facing protruding features (120) that facilitate engagement with a wall of a body vessel. The protruding features (120) can deploy from a frame (110) of the stent (100) to extend radially outwardly. When deployed into a body vessel, the protruding features (120) engage and anchor against the wall of the body vessel to ensure accurate and secure placement of the stent (100).