Transcatheter Aortic Valve Anchoring With D-Shaped Support Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transcatheter aortic valves rely solely on friction for fixation, leading to risks of migration, displacement, and failure due to complex pathological structures.
Innovation Solution
A structurally fitted transcatheter aortic valve implantation device with a radially compressible and re-expandable stent, featuring support arms that form a 'D'-shape to securely anchor at the aortic annulus, minimizing tissue interaction and ensuring stable implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the valve stent is secured by friction only, then the device structure is simple, but the valve may migrate or displace due to complex pathological structures
Solution Approach 1:
The valve stent is divided into multiple functional segments: a tubular body for structural support, support arms for anchoring, an inner skirt for sealing, and an outer skirt for additional stabilization. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function, with support arms providing mechanical anchoring while the tubular body maintains structural integrity, thereby improving fixation stability without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms extend radially outward from the tubular body in a direction perpendicular to the main axis of the valve stent. This dimensional extension allows the support arms to engage with the aortic annulus tissue in a different spatial plane, creating mechanical interlocking that prevents migration and displacement while maintaining overall device simplicity
2Reliability
If the valve stent uses a grid-like structure with support arms, then the fixation stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support arms are integrally formed and directly connected to the tubular body, merging the anchoring function and structural support function into a unified component. This integration eliminates the need for separate anchoring mechanisms while providing reliable fixation, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The grid-like structure of the tubular body provides localized structural reinforcement at critical areas, while the support arms provide localized anchoring at the aortic annulus. This localized quality enhancement allows the device to achieve high fixation stability only where needed, rather than requiring complex structures throughout the entire device
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces the risk of implant failure by providing secure anchoring, preventing displacement and ejection, and enhancing the success rate of valve implantation.
Implementation Method 1
the support arms are configured to expand horizontally at the aortic annulus, thereby moving the tubular body toward the ascending aorta side above the aortic annulus to be fixed at the narrowest part of the aorta
Implementation Method 2
the valve stent is radially compressible and re-expandable so as to be implanted via a catheter device
Data Source
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AI summary
An aortic valve implantation device that is delivered through a catheter and does not depend only on friction for fixation. According to the device, multiple supporting arms (50) are provided on an intermediate portion (102) of a tubular body (105); the supporting arms are "D"-shaped after fully expansion, and are fixed between a narrowest part (73) of the aorta close to the heart and a narrowest part (74) on an aortic annulus (70), so as to achieve sufficient match between the outer surfaces of the support arms (50) and surrounding tissues; each supporting arm (50) comprises three landing areas (54) and two bending sections (59). The present invention can accurately control the position of a valve to be released on the aortic annulus (70), and thus, adverse events caused by existing fixation relying solely on friction are avoided, thereby better curing aortic valve diseases.