Wire Braid Ball Implants for Intracranial Aneurysm Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endovascular treatments for intracranial aneurysms, particularly terminal aneurysms, face challenges in effective occlusion due to complex deployment procedures and limited applicability of existing devices, which often require high physician skill and are not suitable for a significant portion of aneurysm occurrences.
Innovation Solution
Development of wire braid ball implants made from bio-stable materials like Stainless Steel, Cobalt Chromium, Nitinol, and Titanium alloys, designed to occlude blood flow by altering hemodynamics, with high-density braiding and adjustable wire counts and diameters for specific vascular sites, along with advanced delivery systems for precise placement and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vasoocclusive coils are used for aneurysm treatment, then aneurysm occlusion can be achieved, but the procedure requires high physician skill and complex deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flow disruptor stent as an intermediary device that modifies blood flow patterns to promote thrombosis within the aneurysm. This stent serves as a mediator between the parent vessel and the aneurysm sac, creating turbulence and flow disruption that leads to clot formation, thereby achieving occlusion with a different mechanism than direct coil packing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of occlusion mechanism from mechanical filling (coils) to hemodynamic modification (flow disruption). By altering blood flow characteristics through the stent structure, the patent achieves thrombosis-induced occlusion, which simplifies the deployment procedure while maintaining effectiveness
2Reliability
If flow disruptor stents are placed in the parent vessel, then embolization can be achieved, but applicability is limited to certain aneurysm types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a flow disruptor stent that can be applied to multiple aneurysm configurations (terminal, sidewall, and dome aneurysms) by modifying blood flow patterns in the parent vessel. The stent's ability to create turbulence and flow disruption makes it universally applicable across different aneurysm types, eliminating the need for type-specific devices
3Reliability
If densely braided devices are used for parent vessel occlusion, then hemodynamic alteration can be achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dense braiding selectively in specific regions of the stent where flow disruption is most needed, rather than uniformly throughout the entire device. This localized approach to braid density achieves the desired hemodynamic alteration while reducing overall device complexity and material usage
Data Source
AI summary
Braid-balls suitable for aneurysm occlusion and/or parent vessel occlusion/sacrifice (e.g., in treating neurovascular defects) are disclosed. Especially for aneurysm treatment, but also for either one of the aforementioned treatments, the form of the ball is very important. In particular, the density of the device is paramount in applications where braid itself is intended to moderate or stop blood flow—allowing thrombosis within a volume formed by the ball.