Artificial Chordae Anchoring for Minimally Invasive Valve Repair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical procedures for chordae tendineae replacement are highly invasive, carrying high morbidity and mortality risks, necessitating less invasive delivery and implantation methods for artificial chordae tendineae.

Innovation Solution

Development of a flexible cord with anchors, such as helical wires, to be attached to heart valve leaflets and tissue walls, facilitated by a capture device for transcatheter delivery, reducing invasiveness and improving repair efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If open surgical procedure is used for chordae tendineae replacement, then repair efficacy is achieved, but morbidity and mortality risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverepair efficacyVSAvoidmorbidity and mortality risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical open surgical procedure with a transcatheter delivery system that uses a capture device to grasp the leaflet and deliver the flexible cord through a puncture, eliminating the need for open surgery while achieving the same repair function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a capture device as an intermediary tool that facilitates the delivery of the flexible cord through the leaflet. The capture device grases the leaflet and provides a channel for delivering the flexible cord, enabling minimally invasive repair

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If transcatheter delivery approach is used, then invasiveness is reduced, but delivery complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinvasivenessVSAvoiddelivery complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the delivery system into separate functional components: a capture device for grasping the leaflet, a flexible cord for the chordae tendineae replacement, and a helical wire for anchoring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall delivery process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by first securing the flexible cord to the helical wire anchor before delivery. This pre-assembly ensures that the flexible cord is properly positioned and anchored to the leaflet, simplifying the delivery operation and reducing the need for complex intra-procedural adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3727201B1Artificial chordae tendineae repair devices and delivery thereof

Publication Date: 2026.02.25 WL GORE & ASSOC INC

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AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include device for chordae tendineae repair. The device may include a flexible cord having a first end and a second end; and a helical wire configured to attach to one of the first end and the second end of the flexible cord and anchor the flexible cord to a leaflet of a heart valve; and a capture device having a channel and configured to clamp the leaflet of the heart valve and deliver the flexible cord through the channel to anchor the helical wire to the leaflet.