Transcatheter Anchor Support Locking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical devices and systems for minimally invasive heart implants lack effective locking mechanisms to securely attach cardiac implants or other intracardiac devices, leading to instability and potential failure over time.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive locking system comprising a lock cap, lock cone, lock collar, and tethering system, which includes a tether swivel and tethers, allowing for secure anchoring and adjustable locking mechanisms to various cardiac implants or devices, utilizing a guidewire and control rods for precise positioning and locking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a locking mechanism is added to secure cardiac implants, then stability and reliability improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of cardiac implantVSAvoidcomplexity of locking system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking system is divided into separate functional components: a lock body with locking elements, a separate anchor with anchoring elements, and a connecting member. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to provide stable locking, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting member is received within the lock body, creating a nested configuration where the anchor assembly fits inside the lock body. This nesting reduces overall device complexity and space requirements while maintaining the stability function, as the components are integrated rather than separate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a locking mechanism is added to secure cardiac implants, then reliability improves, but the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of cardiac implantVSAvoidnumber of locking components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The locking elements and anchoring elements are merged into integrated assemblies where the lock body incorporates locking elements and the anchor incorporates anchoring elements. This merging reduces the total number of separate parts while maintaining the necessary locking function, as the elements are combined within their respective components rather than existing as separate discrete parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a locking mechanism is added to secure cardiac implants, then stability improves, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of cardiac implantVSAvoidease of implantation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking elements and anchoring elements are pre-positioned within the lock body and anchor respectively before implantation. This preliminary positioning allows the locking mechanism to engage automatically during the implantation process without requiring complex manual operations, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving stable locking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11877928B2Transcatheter anchor support and methods of implantation

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 OPUS MEDICAL THERAPIES LLC

AI summary

A minimally invasively implanted anchor support for securing a medical prosthesis device with a tether to an implanted anchor. The anchor support includes a lock cap for connecting to the anchor, a tether swivel connected to the lock cap, a tock cone within the tether swivel and a tether collar on a proximal end of the tether swivel. An anchor support delivery system cooperates with the anchor support for securing to the lock cap.