Catheter Valve Crimping Funnel with Axial Split and Collars
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for crimping prosthetic valves onto catheters are cumbersome and prone to user error, especially when the catheter has a distal tip larger than the final crimped diameter of the valve, making accurate positioning and removal of crimping devices complicated.
Innovation Solution
A catheter assembly with a handle and distal tip assembly, featuring a crimping funnel with an axial split and collars that allow for easy attachment and detachment, along with wire crimping hooks and a valve retainer, simplifies the crimping process by allowing the funnel to be slidably positioned and removed, ensuring precise crimping and improved accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a crimping device is used to crimp a prosthetic valve onto a catheter with a distal tip larger than the final crimped diameter of the valve, then the valve can be crimped to the desired size, but the crimping device is difficult to position on and remove from the catheter body
Solution Approach 1:
The crimping device is divided into a crimping portion and a removal portion. The crimping portion has a smaller diameter matching the final crimped valve diameter for accurate positioning, while the removal portion has a larger diameter to facilitate easy removal from the catheter body after crimping is complete.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a single-diameter structure to a multi-diameter structure along its longitudinal axis, creating different cross-sectional dimensions at different locations to serve different functional requirements during the crimping process.
2Manufacturing precision
If hand-held or tabletop crimping devices are used to crimp prosthetic valves, then the valve can be compressed to the desired size, but user assembly and positioning errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The crimping device is pre-assembled and integrated with the catheter body, forming a unified catheter assembly. This eliminates the need for users to separately assemble and position the crimping device, thereby reducing user error and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The crimping device is pre-positioned on the catheter during manufacturing, with the crimping portion already aligned with the appropriate catheter section. This preliminary positioning ensures accurate valve compression without requiring user intervention for alignment.
3Manufacturing precision
If a crimping device with a small diameter is used to match the final crimped valve diameter, then accurate crimping can be achieved, but the device cannot be easily removed from catheters with enlarged distal tips
Solution Approach 1:
The crimping device incorporates a distinct removal portion with larger diameter that extends beyond the crimping portion. This segmentation allows the device to maintain small diameter at the crimping interface for accuracy while providing a larger removal interface for easy extraction from enlarged catheter tips.
Data Source
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AI summary
A retaining assembly configured to secure a prosthetic valve or a stent to a catheter assembly, comprising: a retainer (2436) having a plurality of retainer slots (2404) and a circumferential channel (2402) beneath the retainer slots (2404), wherein the retainer slots (2404) each comprise an interior portion and an exterior portion, wherein the interior portion is wider than the exterior portion and wherein the exterior portion is opened to an outside of the retainer (2436); a retaining sleeve (130) configured to encompass the retainer (2436); wherein the wider interior portions of the retainer slots (2404) are configured for an insertion of fixation elements (208) of a prosthetic valve or stent and wherein the retaining sleeve (130) is configured to prevent the fixation elements (208) from escaping the retainer (2436) by passing out of the retainer slots (2404) towards the exterior of the retainer (2436).