Wave Pattern Vascular Filter Buckling Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vascular filters face challenges in maintaining effective thrombus capture and resistance to buckling within blood vessels, which can lead to pulmonary embolism and inefficient filtration.
Innovation Solution
A vascular filter design featuring a support member with a wave pattern and capture members that minimize gaps and maximize contact with the blood vessel wall, incorporating shape-memory materials and a configuration that allows for flexible deployment and high resistance to buckling, ensuring efficient thrombus capture and prevention of pulmonary embolism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the support member is made more rigid to resist buckling, then resistance to buckling is improved, but flexibility during delivery and ease of deployment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support member transitions from a flexible, compressed state during delivery to a rigid, expanded state during deployment. This dynamic transformation allows the filter to be easily delivered through catheters while providing sufficient structural support when deployed in the vena cava to resist buckling and maintain position.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member utilizes a flexible membrane or thin-walled structure that can be compressed for delivery and then expanded to provide rigidity. This flexible shell approach allows the same structure to exhibit both flexibility during delivery and rigidity during operation, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Reliability
If capture members are positioned closer together to minimize gaps, then filter efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter structure is divided into multiple segments or struts with capture members positioned at regular intervals. This segmentation allows the creation of multiple small capture zones rather than requiring one large complex structure, achieving high filtration efficiency through repeated simple geometric patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture members are designed with curved or arc-shaped geometries that naturally guide thrombus toward the filtration zone. The curved configuration of capture members and struts creates efficient flow patterns that enhance thrombus capture without requiring complex mechanical structures.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the support member contacts the blood vessel wall more extensively to prevent migration, then position stability is improved, but risk of vessel injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member features localized contact zones with the vessel wall rather than continuous contact. Specific portions of the support structure are designed to engage with the vena cava wall to prevent migration, while other areas maintain spacing to allow normal blood flow and reduce injury risk. The capture members also have localized interaction with thrombus without requiring extensive vessel contact.
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
The filter effectively captures thrombi, reduces the risk of pulmonary embolism by maintaining position within the blood vessel, and facilitates unrestricted blood flow by transitioning to an open configuration after a predetermined period.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating shape-memory materials and a configuration that allows for flexible deployment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A vascular filter (1) comprises a proximal support hoop (3), a plurality of support struts (5), and a plurality of capture arms (6). The proximal support hoop (3) extends around the internal wall of the inferior vena cava in a wave pattern having six distal peaks (11) and six proximal peaks (11). The proximal support hoop (3) comprises an enlarged end element at each peak (11). The support struts (5) extend longitudinally along the internal wall of the inferior vena cava in a curve (14). Two capture arms (6) are connected to the proximal support hoop (3) at each distal peak (11). Each capture arm 6 extends from the distal peak (11) to an apex (7) in a curve (12, 13). The concave portion of the first curve (12) faces inwardly towards the concave portion of the second curve (13).