Catheter-Based Valve Prosthesis Delivery via Tether Rail

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for valvular heart diseases, such as mitral valve prolapse and mitral stenosis, often require invasive open-heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, which are risky and costly, and there is a need for minimally invasive alternatives that can effectively replace or repair heart valves without compromising patient safety and recovery time.

Innovation Solution

A valve prosthesis system featuring a tubular member with radially extending loop elements that can be deployed in the heart valve annulus, using fastening mechanisms to securely attach to cardiac tissue above and below the valve, allowing for minimally invasive deployment via a catheter and self-expansion to conform to the valve anatomy, potentially reducing the need for open-heart surgery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is used to replace heart valves, then reliable valve replacement is achieved, but surgical risk and patient trauma increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve replacement reliabilityVSAvoidsurgical risk and patient trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical open-heart surgical system with a catheter-based delivery system. The valve prosthesis is delivered through a catheter that is advanced percutaneously to the heart valve location, eliminating the need for chest opening, cardiopulmonary bypass machinery, and complex surgical mechanical manipulation. This substitution of delivery mechanism directly reduces surgical risk while maintaining replacement reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a catheter as an intermediary device to deliver the valve prosthesis to the target location. The catheter serves as a mediator between the operator and the heart valve, allowing precise positioning and deployment without direct surgical access to the heart. This intermediary approach enables minimally invasive delivery while ensuring accurate placement for reliable valve replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If open-heart surgery is performed for valve replacement, then complete valve replacement is achieved, but hospitalization time and recovery period increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve replacement completenessVSAvoidhospitalization and recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By substituting the traditional surgical approach with a catheter-based percutaneous delivery system, the patent enables a less invasive procedure that requires smaller incisions and avoids chest opening. This mechanical substitution directly reduces surgical trauma, leading to shorter hospitalization periods and faster patient recovery while maintaining complete valve replacement functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If traditional surgical approaches are used for valve replacement, then effective treatment is achieved, but procedural complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve replacement effectivenessVSAvoidprocedural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the valve prosthesis from the complex surgical procedure and delivers it through a simplified catheter-based system. By taking out the need for sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and complex surgical field management, the procedure is reduced to catheter advancement and prosthesis deployment. This extraction of essential function from complex surgical context reduces procedural complexity while maintaining treatment effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the complex surgical mechanical system with a simpler catheter-based delivery mechanism. The substitution eliminates the need for surgical retraction, clamping, suturing, and cardiopulmonary bypass machinery operation. This mechanical simplification reduces procedural complexity and training requirements while achieving the same therapeutic goal of effective valve replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9579193B2Methods and systems for delivering prostheses using rail techniques

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 TRANSMURAL SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

Exemplary embodiments provide methods and systems for delivering a prosthesis to a target location in a lumenal system of a patient. At least one tether is secured proximate the target location to serve as a rail, and a prosthesis is advanced along the rail to the target location and secured in place. Exemplary methods and systems provide for repair of the mitral and tricuspid valves, as well as abdominal aortic aneurysms, stomach valves, fallopian tubes and the pulmonary system, among others. Also disclosed are various prostheses suitable for use with the disclosed methods and systems.