Collapsible Prosthetic Heart Valve Structures for Durable Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collapsible prosthetic heart valve designs fail to adequately address issues such as long-term durability, mitral valve impingement, and perivalvular leakage, particularly in high-risk patients deemed inoperable for traditional heart valve replacement.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a collapsible and re-expandable supporting structure with independently flexing commissure posts, flexible leaflet members, and a buffering layer to minimize abrasion and stress, ensuring secure attachment and optimal function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional open-chest/open-heart surgery is used for valve replacement, then long-term durability and reliability are improved, but patient invasiveness and surgical risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible stent constructed from interconnected struts that can be compressed into a collapsed state for percutaneous delivery and then expanded to a functional state for valve support. This flexible shell structure enables minimally invasive delivery while maintaining the mechanical strength and durability required for long-term reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The stent is designed with dynamic characteristics, transitioning from a collapsed low-profile state during delivery to an expanded functional state at the implantation site. This dynamic transformation allows the device to adapt to different operational requirements, enabling percutaneous delivery while providing robust structural support for long-term durability
2Stability of the object's composition
If the supporting structure is made more rigid to improve structural stability, then durability is improved, but flexibility during collapse and re-expansion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting structure is divided into multiple discrete struts interconnected at joints, forming a lattice framework. This segmentation allows each strut to flex independently during collapse and re-expansion while collectively providing structural stability when expanded, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The stent is constructed from composite material structures combining rigid elements for structural stability with flexible connection points for adaptability. This composite approach enables the supporting structure to maintain durability through rigid struts while achieving collapse and re-expansion flexibility through engineered joint mechanisms
3Reliability
If the leaflet material is made thicker to reduce wear and increase durability, then long-term functionality is improved, but friction and resistance to blood flow increase
Solution Approach 1:
The leaflet is constructed as a thin flexible membrane that provides adequate durability through optimized material selection and structural design rather than increased thickness. This thin film approach minimizes friction and resistance to blood flow while maintaining sufficient strength and wear resistance for long-term functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The leaflet material parameters are optimized to achieve the desired balance between durability and friction. By adjusting material properties such as tensile strength, elasticity, and surface characteristics, the leaflet achieves long-term wear resistance without requiring increased thickness that would elevate friction and blood flow resistance
4Reliability
If independently flexing commissure posts are added to improve valve function and durability, then long-term reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The commissure posts are integrated with the stent framework, merging the functions of structural support and commissure positioning into a unified structure. This integration reduces overall device complexity while maintaining the independently flexing capability of the commissure posts to improve valve function and long-term reliability
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 improved design enhances durability and reduces friction and wear, providing superior performance and long-term functionality for high-risk patients.
Implementation Method 1
The collapsing and re-expansion of the valve are preferably elastic
Implementation Method 2
plastic expansion may be as a result of inflation of a balloon that is temporarily disposed inside the valve
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Prosthetic heart valves, which are collapsible to a relatively small circumferential size for less invasive delivery into a patient and which then re-expand to operating size at an implant site in the patient, include a collapsible/expandable stent-like supporting structure and various components of flexible, sheet-like material that are attached to the supporting structure. For example, these sheet-like other components may include prosthetic valve leaflets, layers of buffering material, cuff material, etc. Improved structures and techniques are provided for securing such other components to the stent-like supporting structure of the valve.