Artificial Chordae Catheter Fixation for Minimally Invasive Mitral Repair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatments for mitral valve disease, such as invasive surgical interventions and valve replacements, are risky and require opening the chest and heart chamber, necessitating the development of transluminal solutions for delivering artificial chordae tendineae to address stretched or ruptured chordae tendineae that cause abnormal blood flow regurgitation.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a delivery catheter with a clamp catheter and anchor catheter for transluminally inserting artificial chordae tendineae, using a clamp to attach to a heart valve leaflet and an anchor to attach to heart muscle, allowing adjustment of tension and position through mechanisms like ratchets and shape-memory arms for secure fixation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If invasive surgical intervention is used to repair mitral valve disease, then the repair effectiveness is improved, but the surgical risk and patient trauma increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepair effectivenessVSAvoidsurgical risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical procedure is segmented into multiple independent catheter-based steps: delivering the artificial chordae tendineae, anchoring to the leaflet, anchoring to the heart muscle, and adjusting tension. Each step can be performed separately through catheter access, avoiding the need for single-stage open heart surgery and reducing surgical risk while maintaining repair effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary artificial chordae tendineae device that connects the heart valve leaflet to the heart muscle, replacing the function of damaged natural chordae. This intermediary structure allows restoration of normal valve function without requiring direct surgical manipulation of the native valve structures, thereby reducing surgical trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If open heart surgery is performed to expose the mitral valve for direct viewing and repair, then the ability to directly repair the valve is improved, but the patient trauma and recovery time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirect valve repair capabilityVSAvoidpatient trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical open-heart surgical approach with a catheter-based delivery system. The artificial chordae tendineae are delivered through catheters inserted via peripheral vessels, eliminating the need for chest opening and direct surgical exposure. The deployment mechanisms (pushers, release filaments, ratchets) are operated remotely through the catheter, maintaining ease of operation while dramatically reducing patient trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If artificial chordae tendineae are delivered to replace damaged chordae, then the restoration of valve function is improved, but the device complexity and delivery difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve function restorationVSAvoiddelivery system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery system employs nested catheters where the anchor catheter is inserted within the delivery catheter, and the artificial chordae tendineae are contained within the anchor catheter. This nested configuration allows all components to be delivered through a single peripheral access point while maintaining the ability to deploy each component sequentially, managing device complexity through hierarchical nesting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The artificial chordae tendineae and anchoring mechanisms are pre-assembled and pre-positioned within the delivery catheter system before patient insertion. The pusher and release mechanisms are pre-configured to enable controlled deployment at the target site. This preliminary preparation simplifies the actual implantation procedure and reduces procedural complexity during the surgical intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 minimally invasive delivery and adjustment of artificial chordae tendineae to restore normal heart function by securing leaflets and muscles, reducing the risk of invasive surgeries and improving blood flow regulation.

Implementation Method 1

A shape-memory of the arm of the anchor of the anchor catheter may be configured to bias the arm to puncture through a muscle and may extend proximally as the arm transitions from a restrained configuration toward a neutral configuration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory: Shape Memory Alloy

Data Source

PatentEP4364697B1System for artificial chordae tendineae

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

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AI summary

The present disclosure relates generally to a system for delivering a chordae tendineae having a first end and a second end into a heart of a patient, the system comprising a spreader disposed on a clamp catheter; a first clamp at least partially contained in the spreader in a closed configuration, the first clamp being attached to a first end of the chordae tendineae wherein the spreader is configured to transition the first clamp from a closed configuration to an open configuration.