KR102713596B1 - stent for isolating bloodstream - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application provides a blood flow blocking stent capable of immediately blocking blood flow within a blood vessel.

Description

{stent for isolating bloodstream}

The present invention relates to a stent for blocking blood flow.

In general, blood vessels are tubes that circulate blood throughout the body. Blood vessels are made up of arteries, capillaries, and veins that are interconnected to various devices and the extremities of the body, and blood circulates inside the blood vessels by the beating force of the heart.

Blood vessels can be occluded, stenotic, ruptured by aneurysms, or bleeding due to diseases or other conditions. If these symptoms persist, blood flow can be blocked or blood flow can be impeded by internal bleeding, causing paralysis or organ damage, which can be life-threatening. In the early stages, medications were used, and when symptoms worsened, surgical intervention was used. However, surgical intervention has a high mortality rate and has the disadvantage of a long recovery period after surgery.

Accordingly, various methods that can be treated with non-surgical methods have been developed recently. Among them, artificial implants that can expand, reinforce, and block bleeding of blood vessel walls have been developed by observing blood vessels using radiation, which is a light that can penetrate the inside of the human body, such as X-rays and gamma rays. Artificial implants are inserted into blood vessels from the outside to treat by expanding and reinforcing the blood vessel walls. Non-surgical methods are safer than surgical methods and have a shorter recovery period, so they are being used a lot recently.

However, if bleeding occurs due to damage and tearing of the blood vessel wall, it can be life-threatening, such as cerebral hemorrhage and abdominal hemorrhage, and in the case of blood vessels with congenital defects, the blood vessel wall expands and swells as aging progresses, causing abnormal blood flow and increasing the risk of blood vessel rupture. In such cases, a blood flow-blocking stent is used, which is open in the center to allow blood flow and has a blocking layer formed on the outer surface to block the damaged part of the blood vessel wall.

Conventional stents for blocking blood flow can effectively treat damaged blood vessels by simultaneously performing the functions of reinforcing and expanding blood vessel walls to treat occlusion and stenosis of blood flow without obstructing blood flow when inserted into the interior of the blood vessel, and the function of blocking blood flow to treat damaged blood vessels.

Conventional stents for blocking blood flow have a blocking layer formed on the outer surface to block the inner surface of the blood vessel wall, so when a stent for blocking blood flow is installed in a part of the blood vessel that branches off from the main flow, the branch flow that supplies blood to the outer surface of the blood vessel wall is blocked. In other words, blood flows through the main flow to the open center without any flow obstruction, but the blood flow in the branch flow is blocked by the blocking layer.

Accordingly, conventional stents for blood flow blocking are effective in blocking branch flow but are not very effective in blocking the main flow, so their use is limited.

The present invention aims to solve the problem of providing a blood flow blocking stent capable of immediately blocking the main flow within a blood vessel.

In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a blood flow blocking stent is provided, including: a pusher having a predetermined length that can be inserted into a blood vessel; a stent body that is formed to be foldable or expandable, is detachably connected to an insertion front end of the pusher, and has an internal space that contracts or expands according to the folding or unfolding; and a blocking film that is connected to the stent body so as to surround the internal space of the stent body and blocks blood movement from the outside to the internal space.

As described above, the blood flow blocking stent according to at least one embodiment of the present invention has an advantage in that it can immediately block blood flow within a blood vessel by providing a blocking membrane surrounding the internal space of the stent body.

Figures 1 and 2 are detailed drawings of a stent body of an exemplary blood flow blocking stent according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing the operational state of an exemplary blood flow blocking stent according to the present invention.

The terms used in this specification will be briefly explained, and the present invention will be described in detail.

The terms used in the present invention are selected from the most widely used general terms possible while considering the functions of the present invention, but this may vary depending on the intention of engineers working in the field, precedents, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meanings thereof will be described in detail in the description of the relevant invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall contents of the present invention, not simply the names of the terms.

When a part of the specification is said to "include" a component, this does not mean that it excludes other components, but rather that it may include other components, unless otherwise specifically stated. In addition, when a part of the specification is said to be "connected" or "coupled" to another part, this includes not only cases where it is "directly connected" or "directly coupled," but also cases where it is "connected with other components in between."

Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily practice the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to clearly describe the present invention in the drawings, parts that are not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are assigned similar drawing reference numerals throughout the specification.

The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings below.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are drawings showing in detail the stent body of an exemplary blood flow-blocking stent according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining the operating principle of an exemplary blood flow-blocking stent according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, a stent for blocking blood flow according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a pusher (100), a stent body (200), and a blocking film (300).

The above pusher (100) has a predetermined length that can be inserted into a blood vessel. The pusher (100) serves to transport the stent body (200) to a part where blood movement (or blood flow) is blocked. The pusher can be formed of various metal materials that have appropriate strength in terms of securing a blood vessel insertion path.

The above stent body (200) is formed to be foldable or unfoldable, is detachably coupled to the insertion front end of the pusher (100), and has an internal space (s) that contracts or expands according to folding or unfolding. When the stent body (200) is folded, the internal space contracts, and when the stent body (200) is unfolded, the internal space (s) can expand. The stent body (200) maintains a contracted state during the process of moving to the blood-blocking portion, and can be unfolded while located at the blood-blocking portion. When the stent body (200) is unfolded, the position can be tightly fixed while pressurizing the inner wall of the blood vessel.

The above-described blocking film (300) is connected to the stent body (200) so as to surround the internal space (S) of the stent body (200), and blocks blood movement from the outside to the internal space (S). The blocking film (300) makes the internal space (s) become a sealed space by being cut off from the outside. When the stent body (200) is unfolded at the blocked portion within the blood vessel, the internal space (S) expands to completely fill the inside of the blood vessel. The internal space (S) can expand so that there is no gap with the inner wall of the blood vessel. Accordingly, blood movement is blocked at the boundary area between the internal space (S) and the inner wall of the blood vessel. In addition, since the internal space (S) is surrounded by the blocking film (300), blood cannot penetrate or pass into the internal space, and ultimately, a blood flow blocking effect is implemented at the portion where the stent body (200) is unfolded.

That is, since the blood flow blocking stent according to the present application includes a blocking film (300) surrounding the internal space of the stent body (200), it has the advantage of enabling immediate blood flow blocking with a simple operation of unfolding the stent body (200) at a location where blood flow is to be blocked.

In one example, a blood flow blocking stent may include an outer shell (400) formed to removably surround the pusher (100) and the stent body (200). The outer shell (400) may be removed by pulling in a direction opposite to the insertion direction (direction A). Before insertion into a blood vessel, the pusher (100) and the stent body (200) may be wrapped in the outer shell (400). The stent body wrapped in the outer shell (400) may maintain a folded state. In addition, when the pusher (100) is inserted into a blood vessel and the stent body (200) is placed at a blood flow blocking site, if the outer shell (400) is pulled in a direction opposite to the insertion direction (direction A) and removed, the folded stent body (200) unfolds, and a blood flow blocking effect may be implemented at the corresponding site as described above.

In one specific example, the stent body (200) may include a plurality of frames (210) that are folded or radially unfolded. The plurality of frames (210) constitute a basic skeleton of the stent body. The plurality of frames (210) may have at least one or more connecting points that are densely connected to each other. Based on the connecting points, the plurality of frames (210) may unfold radially. In the unfolded state, the plurality of frames (210) are arranged radially at a constant interval.

The blood flow blocking stent according to the present application may include a first connecting member (220) that densely connects one end of the plurality of frames (210) to each other; and a second connecting member (230) that densely connects the central portions of the plurality of frames (210) to each other. The central portions of the plurality of frames (210) may be a portion that pressurizes the inner wall of a blood vessel. The central portion has a straight shape and may be maintained in a horizontal state with the inner wall of the blood vessel. In an unfolded state, the central portions of the plurality of frames (210) pressurize the inner wall of the blood vessel (1) while ensuring that the position of the stent body is fixed inside the blood vessel. In addition, the plurality of frames (210) may include a bent portion that extends from the central portion to the first and second connecting members and is bent at a predetermined angle when unfolded.

The first connecting member (220) may include a connecting portion (240) that is detachably connected to the pusher (100). The connecting portion (240) may be, for example, a screw connecting portion. The stent body (200) may be detachably connected to the insertion front end of the pusher (100) through the connecting portion (240) of the first connecting member (310).

The plurality of frames (210) may include a first region (210a) that is folded or radially spread between the first connecting member (220) and the second connecting member (230) and a second region (210b) that is folded or radially spread between the second connecting member (230) and another end. The plurality of frames (210) of the second region (210b) pre-occupy a position of the stent body (200) and act as an anchor so that the stent body (200) is fixed to the pre-occupyed position. In order to improve the anchor function, the plurality of frames (210) of the second region (210b) may be provided with a plurality of protrusions (not shown) as needed. Meanwhile, the internal space (s) described above may be located in the first region (210a), and the aforementioned blocking film (300) may be connected to the first region (210a) of a plurality of frames (210).

Although not shown in the drawing, the blocking film (300) may be coupled to a plurality of frames (210) of the second region (210b). As the blocking film (300) is coupled to a plurality of frames (210) of the second region (210b), a double blocking structure may be formed. For example, blood movement is primarily blocked by the blocking film (300) surrounding the internal space (s) in the first region (210a), and even if blood passes through the internal space (s) of the first region (210a) due to an unexpected defect in the blocking film (300), it may be secondarily blocked by the blocking film (300) located in the second region (210b).

In another example, the material of the barrier (300) may be PTFE. However, it is not limited thereto, and the barrier (300) may be made of various materials that are not permeable to blood without limitation.

FIG. 3 is an operation state diagram of an exemplary blood flow blocking stent according to the present invention. For example, FIG. 3 sequentially explains a blood flow blocking procedure using a blood flow blocking stent.

Specifically, Fig. 3 (a) is a conceptual drawing of a blood vessel (1). Fig. 3 (b) is a drawing showing a state in which a stent for blocking blood flow within a blood vessel is inserted. Fig. 3 (c) is a drawing showing a state in which the outer covering is removed. Fig. 3 (d) is a drawing showing a state in which the stent body is unfolded after the outer covering is removed. Fig. 3 (d) is a drawing showing a state in which the stent body and the pusher are separated.

Referring to FIGS. 3 (a) and (b), when a blood flow blocking stent is inserted into a blood vessel (1) and moves to a blood flow blocking site, the pusher (100) and the stent body (200) are wrapped by the outer shell (400), and as seen in the drawing, the stent body (200) is maintained in a folded state.

Referring to (c) of Fig. 3, the outer skin (400) of the blood flow blocking stent that has reached the blood flow blocking site is pulled in the opposite direction to the insertion direction (direction A) to remove the outer skin.

Referring to (d) of FIG. 3, the stent body (200) from which the outer shell (400) has been removed is unfolded, and the contracted internal space (s) is expanded to fill the inside of the blood vessel. In addition, at least a part of the unfolded stent body (200), for example, the central portion of the plurality of frames (210) described above, is tightly fixed to the corresponding position while applying pressure to the inner wall of the blood vessel. At this time, blood in the blood vessel is prevented from passing through the internal space (s) by the blocking film (300) surrounding the internal space (s), and thus a blood flow blocking effect is implemented.

Referring to (e) of Fig. 3, the blood flow blocking procedure is completed when the pusher (100) is separated from the stent body (200). (e) of Fig. 3 is an exemplary drawing in which the pusher (100) and the stent body (200) are connected by a screw connection, and when the screw connection is made, the pusher (100) can be separated from the stent body (200) by rotating in one direction (direction B).

The preferred embodiments of the present invention described above are disclosed for the purpose of illustration, and those skilled in the art having common knowledge of the present invention will be able to make various modifications, changes, and additions within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and such modifications, changes, and additions should be considered to fall within the scope of the following claims.

100: Pusher
200: Stent body
300: Barrier

Claims (8)

A pusher having a predetermined length that can be inserted into a blood vessel;
A stent body formed to be foldable or unfoldable, detachably connected to the insertion front end of the pusher, and having an internal space that contracts or expands according to folding or unfolding; and
It is connected to the stent body so as to surround the internal space of the stent body, and includes a barrier film that blocks blood movement from the outside to the internal space.
The above barrier is a stent for blocking blood flow, which seals the internal space from the outside to create a sealed space. A blood flow-blocking stent, comprising an outer shell formed to removably surround the pusher and the stent body in claim 1. A stent for blocking blood flow, wherein the stent body in claim 1 comprises a plurality of frames that are folded or radially spread. In the third paragraph, a first connecting member for densely connecting one end of a plurality of frames to each other; and
A stent for blocking blood flow, comprising a second connecting member that densely connects the central portions of a plurality of frames to each other. A stent for blocking blood flow, wherein in claim 4, the first connecting member includes a connecting portion detachably connected to the pusher. In the third aspect, the plurality of frames have a first region that is folded or radially spread between the first connecting member and the second connecting member; and
A stent for blocking blood flow, comprising a second region that is folded or radially unfolded between a second connecting member and another end. A stent for blocking blood flow, wherein in claim 6, the blocking membrane is connected to the first region of a plurality of frames. A stent for blocking blood flow, wherein the material of the barrier membrane in claim 1 is PTFE.