Repositionable Aortic Valve Stent for Coronary Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transcatheter aortic valve implantation technologies face challenges such as limited access to coronary arteries, inability to reposition the valve, and potential damage to the cardiac conduction system, leading to high surgical risks and the need for pacemaker implantation.
Innovation Solution
A self-expandable, repositionable aortic valve stent with a unique design featuring three arms and distinct upper and lower tags, allowing precise implantation, secure positioning, and free access to coronary arteries, while minimizing conduction system damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a dense mesh stent design is used to provide structural support, then stent strength is improved, but access to coronary arteries is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The stent is divided into multiple segments or struts with varying densities. The mesh structure includes regions with different open areas, allowing coronary arteries to pass through larger openings while maintaining structural support in other areas. This segmentation enables both strong support and arterial access simultaneously.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the valve is implanted firmly to ensure secure positioning, then implantation stability is improved, but the ability to reposition the valve is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The stent employs dynamic elements such as shape memory alloy or superelastic materials that allow the structure to be compressed, deployed, and potentially repositioned or recaptured. The stent can transition between different states (compressed, expanded, locked) enabling repositioning before final implantation while maintaining stability once deployed.
3Reliability
If the stent is designed to prevent conduction system damage, then patient safety is improved, but the complexity of the stent structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stent incorporates specific design features at critical locations to protect the conduction system. This includes modified strut configurations, increased spacing, or protective elements at the inferior aspect of the stent where the conduction system is most vulnerable. The rest of the stent maintains its standard structure, balancing protection with overall simplicity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a supra-annular implantation is performed to secure valve positioning, then valve stability is improved, but access to coronary arteries is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The stent design incorporates vertical spacing and three-dimensional positioning features that allow the valve to be secured in a supra-annular position while maintaining horizontal openness for coronary artery access. The mesh structure creates multiple dimensions of access, allowing coronary arteries to pass through the stent framework even when the valve is positioned higher than the annulus.
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 accurate and secure transcatheter aortic valve implantation with reduced risk of conduction disturbances, ensuring easy access to coronary arteries and minimizing the need for pacemaker implantation.
Implementation Method 1
They are made of nitinol and are self-expandable
Implementation Method 2
They are made of nitinol and are self-expandable
Data Source
AI summary
A stent of the aortic valve which is self-expandable and repositionable, preferably made from nitinol, consisting of two parts: the upper part and the lower part. The lower part is a mesh (1) laid out so that it creates a kind of cylinder wall on the entire height of the element. Also other shape of the mesh is acceptable, for example partially conical, or partially resembling flattened side wall of the cylinder. The upper part of the stent consists of derived from the mesh (1) upwards and arranged at equal intervals three arms (2) the height of which is slightly larger than the height of the mesh (1), a bit less than the height of the mesh (1) or equal to its height. The stent arms (2) are shaped in such a way that they form together a kind of an oval chalice bowl, and their end, peripheral part is preferably straight and also inclined to the middle.