Coaptation Assistance Element for Transcatheter Mitral Regurgitation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatments for mitral valve regurgitation, including pharmacological and surgical options, are invasive, costly, and dependent on operator skill, with a need for less invasive, reliable, and easily deployable devices that enhance leaflet coaptation without disrupting anatomy.

Innovation Solution

A coaptation assistance element that remains within the blood flow path, conformable, and extends laterally across the valve opening, with anchors that engage tissue for deployment and retrieval, allowing for simple and reliable treatment of mitral valve regurgitation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surgical options are used to treat mitral valve regurgitation, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but patient trauma and invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidpatient trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional surgical mechanical intervention with a transcatheter delivery system that uses a delivery catheter to implant the coaptation assistance element through a minimally invasive approach, substituting open-heart surgery with a less invasive catheter-based procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery catheter serves as an intermediary tool that enables the coaptation assistance element to be deployed through a minimally invasive transcatheter approach, mediating between the operator and the heart valve without requiring open surgical access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If complex surgical procedures are used, then treatment reliability is improved, but operator skill dependency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment reliabilityVSAvoidoperator skill dependency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into distinct functional components including the coaptation assistance element, anchors, and delivery catheter system, allowing for standardized deployment procedures that reduce operator skill dependency while maintaining treatment reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The coaptation assistance element with its anchors is designed to self-engage with the valve tissue upon deployment, reducing the need for complex manual manipulation by the operator and thereby reducing skill dependency while maintaining reliable treatment outcomes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If traditional surgical methods are used, then valve function is improved, but procedure cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve function improvementVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential coaptation function from complex surgical procedures by isolating it into a dedicated coaptation assistance element that can be deployed independently through a simplified transcatheter approach, reducing overall procedure complexity while maintaining valve function improvement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12419747B2Device, system, and method for transcatheter treatment of valvular regurgitation

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 POLARES MEDICAL INC

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for use in the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, specifically a coaptation assistance element for implantation across the valve; a system including the coaptation assistance element and anchors for implantation; a system including the coaptation assistance element and delivery catheter; and a method for transcatheter implantation of a coaptation element across a heart valve.