Replaceable Aortic Valve Docking System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aortic heart valve replacement technologies face challenges such as frequent replacements due to bioprosthetic valve deterioration, increased complexity and risk of subsequent procedures, and limitations in accessing coronary arteries, leading to patient-prosthesis mismatch and coronary artery occlusion risks.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a prosthetic aortic heart valve that can be moved between a collapsed and expanded condition for implantation and explantation, utilizing a prosthetic aortic heart valve dock with arresting elements and optional drug-eluting coatings or electrosurgical assistance for endothelial growth inhibition, facilitating transcatheter procedures and reducing adhesion for easier replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bioprosthetic valves are implanted permanently, then long-term anticoagulation therapy is avoided, but the valves deteriorate and require frequent replacement procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is divided into two independent components: a permanent dock that remains implanted in the patient and a replaceable valve that can be exchanged without removing the dock. This segmentation allows the durable dock to provide long-term structural support while the valve can be replaced when it deteriorates, resolving the contradiction between avoiding anticoagulation therapy and preventing valve deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The dock is implanted permanently in advance and prepared to receive future valve replacements. The dock includes pre-configured features such as arresting elements and engagement structures that enable subsequent valve exchanges without requiring surgical removal of the dock itself, thus facilitating easier replacement procedures.
2Ease of repair
If traditional surgical methods are used to replace failed valves, then complete valve removal is achieved, but the procedures become highly invasive and riskier
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the replacement difficulty from the valve itself and places it in the dock design. The dock contains specific structures (arresting elements, engagement features) that enable the valve to be removed and replaced through less invasive transcatheter procedures rather than requiring open-heart surgery, thus reducing surgical risk while maintaining replacement feasibility.
3Ease of manufacture
If valves are implanted in a permanent manner, then initial implantation is straightforward, but subsequent replacement procedures become more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The dock is designed with multi-functionality to serve both initial implantation and future replacement procedures. It includes universal engagement structures and arresting elements that work for both the initial valve implantation and subsequent valve exchanges, simplifying the replacement process by providing consistent, pre-configured access points and release mechanisms.
4Stability of the object's composition
If prosthetic valves are left in place, then patient stability is maintained, but chronic and increasing challenges arise for patients and healthcare providers
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static permanent implant to a dynamic replaceable configuration. The dock provides stable anchoring while the valve can be dynamically exchanged when deterioration occurs. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to changing patient needs over time, preventing the accumulation of chronic challenges associated with leaving deteriorated valves in place.
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
Enables safer and more efficient removal and replacement of prosthetic aortic heart valves, reducing the need for invasive surgeries and minimizing risks associated with patient-prosthesis mismatch and coronary artery occlusion, while allowing for easier access during future catheterization procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The prosthetic aortic heart valve dock may include a drug-eluting coating that releases medication to inhibit endothelial growth
Implementation Method 2
application of electrosurgical energy to the interface between the prosthetic aortic heart valve dock and the prosthetic aortic heart valve sufficient to loosen adhesion
Data Source
AI summary
An aortic heart valve replacement system includes a prosthetic aortic heart valve and a prosthetic aortic heart valve dock. The prosthetic aortic heart valve is moveable between a collapsed condition for directing the prosthetic aortic heart valve to the location of the patient's natural aortic heart valve and an expanded condition for fixing the prosthetic aortic heart valve at the location of the patient's natural aortic heart valve. The collapsed condition is also used for later explanting the prosthetic aortic heart valve. The prosthetic aortic heart valve dock has a ring structure configured to receive the prosthetic aortic heart valve in the expanded condition and to later release the prosthetic aortic heart valve during explantation. At least one of the prosthetic aortic heart valve or the prosthetic aortic heart valve dock includes one or more stop elements configured to prevent unwanted movement of the prosthetic aortic heart valve.