Braided Valve Stop Members for Precise Aortic Arch Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Clinicians face difficulties in navigating prosthetic aortic valves through the aortic arch in a minimally invasive manner using catheter-based delivery systems, particularly due to challenges in positioning and protecting the valve during advancement.

Innovation Solution

A medical device delivery system featuring a braided or cellular valve stop member within an inflatable balloon, which maintains the prosthetic heart valve's position and protects vessel walls by flexing along curved pathways, allowing for controlled expansion and alignment with native heart valves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a rigid valve stop member is used to maintain valve position, then positioning precision is improved, but the ability to navigate curved pathways without damaging vessel walls deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve positioning precisionVSAvoidvessel wall damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The valve stop member is constructed as a braided body with interwoven wires that provide flexibility while maintaining structural integrity. This flexible structure can conform to curved catheter pathways and flex during navigation without damaging vessel walls, while still providing sufficient rigidity to maintain precise valve positioning when deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The valve stop member uses a composite braided structure combining multiple wire elements that provide both flexibility for navigation and rigidity for positioning. The braided configuration creates a material that exhibits both compliant behavior during delivery and stable geometric properties during valve retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the valve stop member is made flexible to navigate curved pathways, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to maintain precise valve position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation through aortic archVSAvoidvalve longitudinal position control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The braided body structure provides flexibility for navigating the aortic arch and curved catheter pathways while maintaining enough structural coherence to establish and maintain the longitudinal position of the prosthetic heart valve on the balloon member

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The valve stop member features a frustoconical outer profile with a curved geometry that facilitates navigation through curved anatomical pathways while the inverted frustoconical portion provides a defined stopping surface for precise valve positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a solid valve stop member is used to protect vessel walls, then protection capability is improved, but the ability to flex along curved pathways deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel wall protectionVSAvoidflexibility along curved pathways

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The braided body configuration creates a flexible protective structure that can conform to curved pathways and flex during navigation while still providing a protective interface with the vessel wall and catheter components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The valve stop member serves as a protective element that cushions and protects the distal end of the prosthetic heart valve during advancement through the vascular system, preventing direct contact between the valve edges and vessel walls

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 system enables reliable, atraumatic navigation and precise positioning of prosthetic heart valves, reducing vessel wall damage and facilitating efficient deployment through the aortic arch.

Implementation Method 1

The valve stop member comprises a braided body or a cellular body... allows for a desired expansion process of the balloon member... The flexibility of the braided or cellular structure of the valve stop member allows for tracking of valve stop member and prosthetic heart valve along a curved pathway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

an inflatable balloon member attached at a distal end portion of the catheter... allows for a desired expansion process of the balloon member because the flow of the inflation medium is substantially uninhibited by the valve stop member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20250262051A1Medical device delivery systems

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 ANTERIS TECHNOLOGIES CORP

AI summary

Delivery systems are used for medical devices. For example, this document describes delivery systems for implantable medical devices such as, but not limited to, prosthetic heart valves that are deliverable in a minimally invasive manner using a system of catheters. The delivery systems may include a valve stop member that establishes the longitudinal position of the prosthetic heart valve on a balloon member. Such a valve stop member can be constructed as a braided wire body or cellular body to provide multiple advantages.