Cardiac Jacket with Segmented Bladders for Mitral Valve Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices for treating heart diseases and valvular dysfunction, such as congestive heart disease and valvular regurgitation, are inadequate in effectively applying targeted support and pressure to improve heart function and blood flow.
Innovation Solution
A cardiac implant system comprising a mesh body with fillable bladders positioned around the heart to apply localized pressure on specific areas, including the mitral valve and papillary muscles, using radiopaque markers for precise placement and a delivery device for minimally invasive installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compression-style systems (jackets or bands) are placed around the heart to treat heart diseases, then heart expansion is limited or localized pressure is exerted, but the systems cannot provide effective targeted support to multiple specific regions simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into multiple independent fillable bladders (first bladder, second bladder, third bladder) positioned at different locations on the mesh body, allowing each bladder to be inflated independently to provide targeted support to specific heart regions such as the mitral valve, papillary muscles, and ventricular walls
Solution Approach 2:
Each fillable bladder is designed to exert pressure on a specific localized region of the heart (e.g., first bladder on mitral valve annulus, second bladder on papillary muscles, third bladder on ventricular walls), providing locally optimized treatment for different pathological conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If fillable bladders are positioned on the mesh body to apply localized pressure, then targeted support is provided, but precise positioning and placement are difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
Radiopaque markers are incorporated into the mesh body at predetermined locations corresponding to where fillable bladders will be positioned. These markers are visible during imaging procedures, enabling precise positioning and verification of bladder placement on specific heart regions such as the mitral valve and papillary muscles
3Reliability
If the implant structure is designed to apply supporting forces to multiple targeted regions, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single mesh body implant with multiple fillable bladders serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support to the heart, enables targeted pressure application to different regions (mitral valve, papillary muscles, ventricular walls), and allows for adjustable treatment parameters by selectively inflating different bladders, thereby treating multiple conditions with one device
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 provides contemporaneous support to multiple targeted regions of the heart, reducing symptoms of conditions like functional mitral regurgitation and congestive heart failure by improving blood flow and allowing for tissue ingrowth for secure anchoring.
Implementation Method 1
one or more fillable bladders mounted to the mesh body at one or more predetermined locations so as to provide localized pressure at a targeted surface regions of the heart
Implementation Method 2
a leading hem region configured to elastically flex and engage with an atrial-ventricular groove of the heart
Implementation Method 3
The implant structure can be equipped with radiopaque markers at selected locations along the leading hem region, along or within the fillable bladders, or a combination thereof, so that the relative positioning of the implant structure and the targeted landmarks of the heart can be readily identified
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for providing localized pressure to a region of a patient's heart to improve heart functioning. The devices include a cardiac jacket made of a flexible biocompatible material and at least one inflatable bladder disposed on an interior surface of the jacket. Inflation of the bladder causes the bladder to expand to exert localized pressure against a region of the heart. In some cases, a phase-change material is filled into the bladder as a liquid and the material solidifies at body temperature. In some cases, a positioning tool is used prior to the implantation of the jacket in order to determine effective positions for the inflatable bladder(s) to be located on the heart to improve heart functioning.