Enhanced Looped Wire System for Improved Endovascular Aneurysm Repair
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
An advanced looped wire system for endovascular aneurysm repair, offering improved alignment and deployment of endografts, enhanced procedural efficiency, and reduced risk of complications.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed a pre-cannulated endograft system with looped wires, but it had limitations in terms of wire tensioning, alignment, and deployment. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing a tensioning mechanism, optimizing wire design, and enhancing endograft guidance.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The enhanced looped wire system comprises a looped wire with a proximal end and a distal end, pre-cannulated through a fenestration or branch of an endograft. A tensioning mechanism is integrated to adjust the looped wire's tension, facilitating alignment with a target blood vessel. The system enables precise deployment of the endograft, reducing the risk of misalignment and complications. The looped wire's design is optimized for smooth navigation through the blood vessel and secure engagement with the guidewire and endograft.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new claims introduce a tensioning mechanism, which is not present in the original patent, and optimize the looped wire design, providing a non-obvious solution to the limitations of the original invention.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept may include variations in the tensioning mechanism, such as using a mechanical or hydraulic system, or incorporating sensors to monitor wire tension. Other variations may involve different materials or coatings for the looped wire to enhance its navigation and engagement properties.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The enhanced looped wire system has significant commercial potential in the endovascular aneurysm repair market, offering a more efficient and safer solution for physicians and patients. The target industries include medical device manufacturers, hospitals, and healthcare providers.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61M25/09 |
| A | A61 | A61F2/95 |
| A | A61 | A61F2/954 |
| A | A61 | A61F2/07 |
| A | A61 | A61F2002/065 |
| A | A61 | A61M2025/0915 |
| A | A61 | A61M2025/09108 |
| A | A61 | A61M2025/09133 |
| A | A61 | A61M2025/09141 |
| A | A61 | A61M2025/09175 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Endovascular medical devices, specifically interventional techniques for aneurysm repair involving stent grafts, guidewires, and complex vascular navigation systems. Requires expertise in medical engineering, interventional radiology, and minimally invasive surgical technologies
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A medical device engineer or interventional radiologist with advanced degrees in biomedical engineering, extensive knowledge of endovascular procedures, familiarity with stent graft design, and practical experience in developing minimally invasive medical technologies
Obviousness Rationale
A PHOSITA would recognize that the PTD's tensioning mechanism and enhanced looped wire design represent predictable engineering variations that naturally extend the foundational concepts in the source patent. The modifications address known challenges in endovascular deployment by introducing incremental improvements to wire navigation and alignment. These variations represent standard problem-solving approaches within the field of medical device design.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,741 |
|---|---|
| Title | Looped wire for advanced stent grafts and methods of using same |
| Assignee(s) | W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. |