Articulable Anchor One-Way Valve for Non-Linear Lung Lumens
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) treatment challenges include the difficulty in mounting one-way valves within non-linear lumens in the lung, as existing methods struggle to effectively prevent inhalation while allowing exhalation, due to the irregular structure of lung airways.
Innovation Solution
An implantable device with a collapsible, umbrella-shaped one-way valve and an articulable anchor system that can be deployed via a catheter, featuring a resilient membrane and metal struts to occlude the lumen during inhalation and permit exhalation, while the anchor secures the device within the lung to prevent migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid one-way valve is used to occlude the lumen, then inhalation is effectively prevented, but the device cannot adapt to non-linear lumens in the lung
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is designed with a flexible membrane and articulated struts that allow it to dynamically change shape and orientation. The connection mechanism between the anchor and valve permits relative movement, enabling the valve to adapt to non-linear lumen geometries while maintaining occlusion effectiveness through dynamic reconfiguration rather than rigid fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into separate functional components: an anchor portion and a valve portion connected by an articulated mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while adapting to the complex geometry of lung lumens, with the anchor providing stability and the valve providing occlusion
2Reliability
If the valve is made expandable to engage the lumen wall, then occlusion is improved, but the device becomes more complex to deploy
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible valve is nested within the delivery catheter in a compact configuration, allowing for simplified delivery. Upon deployment, the valve expands from this nested state to engage the lumen wall, transforming from a compact deliverable form to an expanded functional form without requiring complex deployment mechanisms
3Reliability
If the anchor penetrates deeply to secure the device, then migration is prevented, but the risk of tissue damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor arms are designed to be collapsible during delivery and expandable upon deployment. This dynamic transformation allows the arms to be contained within the catheter during insertion, minimizing tissue damage risk, and then expand after positioning to provide stable anchoring without requiring excessive penetration depth
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
The device effectively reduces trapped air in diseased lung portions by preventing inhalation and allowing controlled exhalation, maintaining mucociliary function and self-cleaning of the respiratory system, while being adaptable to non-linear airway geometries.
Implementation Method 1
The valve is collapsible for containment within a delivery catheter and expandable in situ when deployed. The air exerts an outward force on the umbrella shape and forces said valve to tightly engage the lumen.
Implementation Method 2
The mechanism is configured to permit the valve to be oriented at an angle to the anchor when deployed, thereby allowing the anchor to be positioned in a section of the lumen that is at an angle to a section of said lumen in which the one-way valve is positioned.
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable device for providing one-way flow of air through a lumen in a human lung to reduce the volume of air trapped in a diseased portion of the lung by occluding the lumen to prevent inhalation while permitting expiration out of the diseased portion. The implantable device is deployable in the lumen with a catheter. The device comprises an umbrella-shaped, one-way valve. The valve is collapsible for containment within a catheter and expandable in situ when deployed to occlude the lumen. The valve defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a plurality of metal struts, a resilient membrane, and a central post. The device further comprises an anchor for securing the implantable device within the lumen. The anchor comprises a tapered distal end for penetrating the wall of the lumen, and a planar member positioned to limit advancement of the anchor into the lumen. The implantable device further comprises a mechanism connecting the one-way valve to the anchor. The mechanism is disposed along the longitudinal axis when the device is collapsed. The mechanism is configured to permit the valve to be oriented at an angle to said anchor when deployed. Accordingly, the anchor can be positioned in a section of the lumen that is at an angle to a section of said lumen in which said one-way valve is positioned.