Atrial Appendage Clip Delivery System for Minimally Invasive Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing atrial fibrillation-induced ischemic strokes, such as anticoagulant drugs, surgical excision, and percutaneous occlusion, are either risky, complex, or have low efficacy in closing the left atrial appendage effectively.
Innovation Solution
An atrial appendage clip delivery system comprising a handle shell, push rod, connection pipe, and support base, which allows for the safe and convenient placement of an atrial appendage clip from outside the heart to the left atrial appendage, enabling effective closure through a thoracotomy or minimally invasive surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin are used to prevent atrial fibrillation-induced stroke, then the effectiveness in preventing thrombus formation is improved, but the risk of hemorrhage and other contraindications increases, requiring frequent monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the left atrial appendage (the source of thrombus formation) from the heart structure through surgical excision or closure. By taking out the problematic component rather than managing it with medications, the system eliminates the need for lifelong anticoagulant therapy and its associated hemorrhage risks, while effectively preventing stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using drugs to prevent clot formation in the appendage, the invention inverts the approach by physically removing or closing the appendage itself. This fundamental reversal transforms the problem from chemical management to structural elimination, achieving stroke prevention without the harmful side effects of anticoagulants.
2Reliability
If the left atrial appendage is directly excised or ligated during heart surgery, then the complete closure rate is improved compared to medication, but the surgical complexity and risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the surgical procedure into distinct phases: access creation (thoracotomy or minimally invasive), appendage isolation, and closure/excision. This segmentation allows the complex task to be broken into manageable steps, reducing overall surgical complexity while maintaining high closure rates through systematic execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic elements to the closure process, such as adjustable sutures, clips, or stapling mechanisms that can be adjusted during surgery to achieve optimal closure. This dynamic approach allows real-time adaptation to anatomical variations, simplifying the procedure while ensuring complete closure.
3Ease of operation
If percutaneous interventional atrial appendage occlusion is performed, then the invasiveness is reduced compared to open surgery, but the operational complexity and risk increase with unverified safety and effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs an intermediary delivery system that guides the closure device (clip, suture, or occluder) to the appendage through a controlled pathway. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the percutaneous approach by providing a structured route for device delivery, reducing operational complexity while maintaining minimal invasiveness and verified safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes key parameters of the percutaneous approach by optimizing device dimensions, delivery catheter flexibility, and deployment mechanisms. These parameter adjustments reduce operational complexity and risk while maintaining the minimally invasive benefit, with safety and effectiveness verified through controlled clinical implementation.
4Ease of operation
If a clip delivery system is designed for placement from outside the heart, then the surgical accessibility is improved, but the device structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a nested structure where the closure clip is contained within a delivery catheter, which is inserted through a thoracotomy or minimally invasive access. The clip nests within the delivery system, allowing easy surgical accessibility while the modular nested design actually reduces overall device complexity compared to monolithic structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery system is designed with universal components that can accommodate different clip types and delivery approaches (open or minimally invasive). This multi-functionality reduces device structural complexity by using standardized modules rather than custom-designed systems for each application scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an atrial appendage clip delivery system, which includes a handle shell, a push rod, a connection pipe and a support base; a passage is provided in the handle shell along a length direction; one end of the push rod is slidably disposed in the passage; the support base is provided with a mounting window for mounting an atrial appendage clip; the atrial appendage clip includes a first clip arm and a second clip arm capable of opening in parallel or closing; the handle shell, the connection pipe and the support base are sequentially connected and communicate; the first clip arm or the second clip arm is fixedly connected with an upper side or a lower side of the mounting window; the second clip arm or the first clip arm is movably connected with the lower side or the upper side of the mounting window.