Venous Valve Compression via External Stent
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for incompetent venous valves, particularly in deep veins, are limited as they cannot be removed and require innovative methods to improve valve competency without surgical intervention.
Innovation Solution
A method and system involving the delivery of a compressor, either as space-occupying material or implantable devices, to adjacent venous valves to compress and improve the closure of valve leaflets, using techniques such as transluminal catheter insertion or open surgery, to enhance valve competency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical removal of affected veins is performed, then valve incompetence is corrected, but the treatment is not applicable to deep veins which are essential and cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
An external stent acts as an intermediary device that indirectly repairs the incompetent venous valve by compressing it from the outside, allowing treatment of deep veins without surgical removal. The stent mediates between the need for valve repair and the constraint of preserving essential deep vein structure
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of removing the vein to fix the valve (traditional approach), the invention inverts the approach by placing an external stent outside the vein to compress and repair the valve internally, making the treatment applicable to deep veins that cannot be removed
2Reliability
If traditional surgical procedures are used, then valve competency can be improved, but the procedures are invasive and require vein removal or bypass
Solution Approach 1:
The external stent serves as a minimally invasive intermediary that achieves valve repair without traditional open surgery, vein removal, or bypass procedures. It provides a less invasive alternative while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex surgical mechanical procedures (vein removal, bypass, valvuloplasty) with a simpler external compression mechanism delivered through minimally invasive access, substituting elaborate surgical mechanics with a more straightforward external stenting approach
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 approach effectively improves the closure and competency of venous valves by compressing the leaflets, addressing the limitations of existing treatments and providing a minimally invasive solution for deep vein incompetence.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor comprising a quantity of space occupying material is injected into tissue at one or more location(s) adjacent to the venous valve. This space occupying material compresses the venous valve
Implementation Method 2
a compressor comprising one or more implantable device(s) is/are implanted at one or more location(s) adjacent to the venous valve. Such implanted device(s) compresses the venous valve
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for improving the competency of a venous valve wherein one or more compressor(s) (e.g., space occupying material(s) or implantable device(s)) is/are delivered to one or more location(s) adjacent to a venous valve to compress the venous valve in a manner that causes one or both leaflets of the valve to move toward the other, thereby improving closure or coaptation of the valve leaflets. The compressor(s) may be delivered by an open surgical approach, by a direct percutaneous approach or by a transluminal catheter-based approach.