Woven Stent Strand Fixing for Uniform Expansion at the Ends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stents with woven strands face issues such as entanglement during production, deformation upon expansion, and insufficient expansive force, particularly at the ends, due to lack of fixation between strands.
Innovation Solution
The stent strands are fixed at intersections using a fixing material with rubber elasticity, such as resin with shape-memory properties or bioabsorbable resin, to prevent entanglement and ensure uniform expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If strands are left independent without fixation, then the stent structure remains simple and easy to manufacture, but entanglement of both ends occurs during production and strand displacement occurs during delivery
Solution Approach 1:
A fixing material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the strands at their intersection points. This fixing material prevents entanglement and displacement while maintaining the overall simplicity of the stent structure. The fixing material acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between manufacturing simplicity and operational reliability.
2Device complexity
If only strand elasticity is utilized for expansion, then the stent structure remains simple, but expansive force is insufficient particularly at the ends
Solution Approach 1:
The stent employs a composite structure combining strand elasticity with rubber elasticity of the fixing material. This composite approach provides sufficient expansive force throughout the stent, particularly at the ends, while maintaining reasonable structural complexity. The rubber elasticity component complements the strand elasticity to achieve uniform expansion.
3Reliability
If strand intersections are fixed with fixing material, then entanglement and displacement are prevented, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing material is applied locally only at the strand intersection points rather than throughout the entire stent structure. This localized approach prevents entanglement and displacement at critical points while minimizing the increase in overall structural complexity. The fixing material provides targeted reinforcement where needed.
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 fixing material prevents entanglement and strand displacement, ensuring uniform stent expansion and improved expansive force, particularly at the ends.
Implementation Method 1
fixing, by a fixing material having rubber elasticity, and an elongated shape along a strand positioned on a lower side in a state in which the two strands overlap with each other, two crossing strands at an intersection of the two crossing strands
Implementation Method 2
the fixing material is a material having the rubber elasticity, such as resin having a shape-memory property or bioabsorbable resin
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
To fix an intersection at a stent, a stent is configured such that multiple strands are woven in a spiral shape, two crossing strands are fixed by a fixing material having rubber elasticity at an intersection between the strands.