Aortic Root Replacement Device Endovascular Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for replacing or repairing the aortic root often require open-heart surgery, which comes with significant complications and mortality risks, especially for elderly patients with acute type A dissection, making them ineligible for surgery.
Innovation Solution
A vascular endoprosthesis that can be moved between a deployed and retracted configuration, comprising an intraventricular stent, an aortic valve unit, and an aortic stent forming a unitary assembly, allowing for endovascular replacement of the aortic root without open-heart surgery, with features like flared portions for sealing and internal branches/windows for coronary perfusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If open-heart surgery is performed for aortic root replacement, then complete replacement can be achieved, but significant complications and mortality rates occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical open-heart surgery system with an endovascular delivery system. The aortic root replacement device is delivered through catheters via the femoral artery, eliminating the need for thoracotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and direct surgical manipulation of the aortic root. This substitution of delivery mechanism fundamentally reduces surgical invasiveness and associated complications.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs a nested structure where the compressed aortic root replacement device is contained within an inner catheter, which is itself contained within an outer catheter. The intraventricular stent, aortic valve unit, and aortic stent are nested together in a compact configuration that can be delivered through peripheral vessels, then sequentially deployed in the correct anatomical positions.
2Reliability
If endovascular surgery is used for aortic root replacement, then surgical risks are reduced, but achieving complete replacement and proper sealing is more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into three main functional components: an intraventricular stent with flared portion for ventricular anchoring, an aortic valve unit for valve replacement, and an aortic stent with tubular portion for aortic sealing. Each segment can be independently positioned and deployed, allowing precise placement while maintaining overall device integrity during delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is pre-assembled as a unitary structure with predetermined spatial relationships between components before delivery. The intraventricular stent, aortic valve unit, and aortic stent are configured in advance to ensure proper alignment and sealing upon deployment, eliminating the need for complex intraoperative assembly or positioning adjustments.
3Ease of manufacture
If a unitary assembly is used for aortic root replacement, then complete replacement is easier, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the intraventricular stent, aortic valve unit, and aortic stent into a single unitary assembly that functions as an integrated aortic root replacement device. This unified structure ensures proper spatial relationships and sealing interfaces between components, simplifying deployment while maintaining functional integrity. The unitary design eliminates gaps or misalignments that could occur with separate component implantation.
Data Source
AI summary
An aortic root replacement device is movable between a deployed configuration and a retracted configuration. The device includes an intraventricular stent having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the intraventricular stent is flared from the proximal portion towards the distal portion such that when the device is deployed in the ventricle below the aortic valve it is held in position in the ventricle. The device also includes—an aortic valve unit and an aortic stent extending from the intraventricular stent. The intraventricular stent, the aortic valve unit and the aortic stent form a unitary assembly in retracted configuration and in deployed configuration, the aortic stent includes at least three means for connecting the device to the coronary arteries.