Annuloplasty Ring with Helical Structure for Adjustable Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial heart valve annuloplasty rings face challenges in achieving adjustable rigidity, complex manufacturing processes, and potential wear and tear at material junctions, which affect long-term durability and functionality.
Innovation Solution
The annuloplasty ring features a tubular helical structure formed by curling multiple sheet material strips with varying widths and slotted structures, allowing for adjustable rigidity and enhanced durability, with an optional biocompatible fiber fabric layer and internal wire for additional support, simplifying manufacturing and improving cardiac cycle adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid ring adopts metal material to provide good support strength, then the support strength is improved, but the ring is not easy to bend and cannot achieve coordinated movement with the cardiac cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a variable cross-section design where the ring is thicker and more rigid at the posterior aspect to provide strong support, while thinner and more flexible at the anterior aspect to allow bending and coordination with cardiac cycle movements. This dynamic variation in geometry enables the ring to provide appropriate mechanical properties at different locations simultaneously.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a soft ring uses polymer material to achieve satisfying fit for valve anulus, then the fit is improved, but the material is excessively soft and not favorable to effective closure of valve cusps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality variation by making the posterior aspect of the ring thicker and more rigid to provide strong support for valve closure, while keeping the anterior aspect thinner and more flexible to maintain good fit and adaptability to the valve anulus geometry. This spatial differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between fit and closure effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a semi-rigid ring combines metal and polymer to adjust rigidity, then the rigidity adjustment is improved, but the process becomes complex and wear and tear occur at the junction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ring into distinct functional zones with different thicknesses and rigidity levels, creating a posteriorly thicker, more rigid section and an anteriorly thinner, more flexible section. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region's mechanical properties without requiring complex metal-polymer combinations, thereby reducing wear at junctions.
4Device complexity
If a rigid ring uses two-dimensional planar structure to simplify design, then the design simplicity is improved, but the stress on valve cusps increases and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar structure to a three-dimensional variable cross-section structure. By adding the dimension of varying thickness along the ring's circumference, the design achieves both simplicity in concept and improved durability through reduced stress concentration, while maintaining the saddle shape necessary for valve function.
Data Source
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AI summary
An artificial heart valve annuloplasty ring, including an outer layer (6) and an inner layer main body structure (8), the outer layer (6) is covered on the outside of the inner layer main body structure (8), and is used to be sutured to heart tissue. The inner layer main body structure (8) has a tubular helical structure formed by curling a sheet material strip, the tubular helical structure can adjust rigidity of the annuloplasty ring. The artificial heart valve annuloplasty ring has a simple structure, easily adjustable rigidity, and is easy to manufacture and process.