Catheter Anchor Deployment for Secure Artificial Chordae Implantation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for repairing mitral valve regurgitation, such as open heart surgery and minimally invasive techniques, are invasive, complex, and carry risks of complications, while existing catheter-based systems face challenges in securely implanting artificial chordae lines and require multiple steps, increasing the risk of parts coming loose and injuring the patient.
Innovation Solution
A catheter device with a dual-gripper mechanism for stabilizing the leaflet and a flexible joint for implanting both leaflet and papillary anchors, allowing secure attachment of artificial chordae lines with reduced complexity and risk, using elastic materials and composite structures for improved imaging and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If open heart surgery techniques are used for mitral valve repair, then the repair effectiveness is high, but the invasiveness and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical open-heart surgical system with a catheter-based delivery system that can be inserted through a vein. The artificial chordae and anchors are delivered via catheter rather than requiring surgical exposure, replacing complex mechanical surgical procedures with a less invasive catheter-based mechanical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a catheter as an intermediary device to deliver the artificial chordae and anchors to the heart valve. This intermediary allows the repair components to be delivered through the bloodstream rather than requiring direct surgical access to the heart, simplifying the overall procedure while maintaining repair effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing catheter-based systems are used for implanting artificial chordae lines, then the invasiveness is reduced, but the reliability of secure implantation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The anchors in the patent are designed with dynamic deployment mechanisms that allow them to transition from a compressed delivery state to an expanded anchored state. This dynamic transformation ensures secure implantation in the mitral valve tissue while maintaining low invasiveness during delivery through the catheter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the implantation system into separate components: the artificial chordae lines and the anchors. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the anchors for secure tissue attachment and the chordae for proper leaflet support - while both are delivered through the same catheter-based system, maintaining low invasiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing catheter-based systems with multiple steps are used, then the invasiveness is reduced, but the risk of parts coming loose increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the artificial chordae lines and anchors into a single integrated assembly that is delivered together through the catheter in one step. This combining eliminates the need for multiple separate implantation steps, reducing the risk that parts will come loose during the procedure while maintaining the low invasiveness of catheter-based delivery.
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 device provides a less invasive, safer, and more efficient method for implanting artificial chordae lines, reducing the risk of complications and improving the stability and reliability of the implantation process.
Implementation Method 1
the anchor comprising a number of hooks for engagement with the body tissue and having a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein the anchor is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into the folded configuration by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded configuration when no constraining force is applied
Data Source
AI summary
A catheter device (2) is provided for implanting an anchor (9) into body tissue to attach a line (14) to the body tissue. The catheter device (2) comprises: a housing section (4), (8) extending from a distal end of the catheter device (2) along the length of the catheter device (2) toward the proximal end of the catheter device, the housing section (4), (8) comprising a distal part (8) at the distal end of the catheter device (2) and a proximal part 4 located on the proximal side of the distal part (8). An anchor deployment mechanism (106), (110) is provided at the distal part (8) of the housing section (4), (8) for deployment of the anchor (9) for attachment of the anchor (9) to the body tissue. The anchor (9) is held in its stowed position by the anchor deployment mechanism (106, 110) in the distal part (8) prior to deployment, and the anchor (9) comprises a number of hooks (62) for engagement with the body tissue and having a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein the anchor (9) is made of an elastic material such that the hooks (62) can be elastically deformed into the folded position by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded position when no constraining force is applied, and wherein the hooks (62) are held in the folded position whilst the anchor (9) is in the stowed position within the distal part (8). The distal part (8) of the housing (4), (8) has a non-circular shape (118), (117) for engagement with a corresponding non-circular form (28), (108) of the anchor (9) and/or the anchor deployment mechanism (106), (110), such that when the anchor (9) is held in the distal part (8) movement of the anchor (9) is restrained with respect to rotation of the anchor (9) about a longitudinal axis of the distal part (8) due to engagement between the non-circular shape (118), (117) and the non-circular form (28), (108).