Tissue Anchor Magazine With Force-Threshold Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in handling and securely delivering small tissue anchors, particularly those with dimensions less than 11 mm length and 3 mm width, for intracorporeal anchoring of implants, often leading to inadvertent exit during handling or delivery.
Innovation Solution
An anchor-handling device with a housing and retaining member that retains tissue anchors until a sufficient proximally-directed force is applied, exceeding a pre-defined threshold, allowing secure release and preventing inadvertent exit, and is integrated with a multi-component tubular system for transcatheter delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retaining member is used to secure the tissue anchor in the anchor-storage zone, then the reliability of anchor retention is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional retaining mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
A retaining member acts as an intermediary element between the tissue anchor and the housing, providing a simple mechanical retention mechanism. The retaining member can be a latch, clip, or barrier that engages with the anchor or housing features to prevent inadvertent exit, adding reliability without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining member is designed to automatically engage with the tissue anchor upon insertion and automatically disengage when the anchor is properly positioned or when a release mechanism is activated. This self-service functionality eliminates the need for complex external control systems while maintaining reliable retention during the critical storage and delivery phases.
2Ease of operation
If the tissue anchor is made small to facilitate intracorporeal placement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of inadvertent exit during handling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The small tissue anchor is nested within a protective housing that contains the anchor-storage zone. The housing provides a confined space with retention features that securely hold the small anchor during handling and delivery, preventing inadvertent exit while maintaining the anchor's small size for easy intracorporeal placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining member serves as an intermediary that compensates for the small size of the anchor by providing enhanced retention forces. This intermediary mechanism ensures that even though the anchor is small and potentially difficult to control, it remains securely retained during handling until intentional release is commanded.
3Reliability
If the anchor-handling device includes a force threshold mechanism to prevent inadvertent release, then the reliability of controlled release is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional force-sensing or mechanical threshold components
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member is designed with preliminary anti-action features such as friction locks, detent mechanisms, or spring-loaded latches that resist release until a predetermined force threshold is exceeded. These passive mechanical features prevent inadvertent release during normal handling while allowing controlled release when sufficient force is applied, eliminating the need for active force-sensing electronics.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining mechanism utilizes parameter changes in mechanical properties such as friction coefficients, spring constants, or geometric constraints to create a force threshold effect. By designing the retaining member with specific material properties and geometric features, the device achieves reliable controlled release based on force magnitude without requiring complex sensing or control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor-handling device comprises a housing shaped to define a channel having an anchor-storage zone and a proximal opening. A tissue anchor is stored in the anchor-storage zone. The anchor-handing device is configured such that, while the tissue anchor is stored in the anchor-storage zone, the tissue anchor is movable out of the anchor-storage zone toward the proximal opening in response to a proximally-directed force being applied to the tissue anchor. The anchor-handling device comprises an element that serves as an indicator of movement of the tissue anchor out of the anchor-storage zone toward the proximal opening by the element moving in response to the proximally-directed force. Other embodiments are also described.