Collapsible Prosthesis Delivery Device for Minimally Invasive Valve Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Developing delivery systems for prostheses, such as replacement heart valves, that can be compactly delivered and controllably expanded for precise placement within limited anatomical spaces, while securely attaching to intralumenal tissue without causing trauma, remains challenging due to the difficulty in accessing and maneuvering surgical tools through tortuous vasculature.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system featuring an outer elongate hollow member that collapses to expose the prosthesis, combined with an inner retention assembly and a receiving member, allows for the controlled deployment of an expandable prosthesis by sliding the outer member distally relative to the inner retention assembly, enabling longitudinal collapse and reducing the device's length for easier navigation through anatomical spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid capsule assembly is used to deliver the prosthesis, then the prosthesis is protected during delivery, but the delivery device length becomes twice as long as the prosthesis, making it difficult to maneuver through limited anatomical spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The outer elongate hollow member transitions from a rigid protective state during delivery to a collapsible state during deployment. The member is configured to collapse longitudinally upon itself, reducing the delivery device length by approximately half while maintaining prosthesis protection during navigation through tortuous vasculature and limited anatomical spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer elongate hollow member is arranged to collapse upon itself in a nested configuration, with the distal end moving within the proximal end. This nesting mechanism allows the delivery device to compact its length while maintaining structural integrity for prosthesis protection and delivery.
2Ease of operation
If the delivery device is made collapsible to reduce length, then ease of maneuvering through anatomical spaces is improved, but control over prosthesis deployment becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is divided into distinct functional segments: the collapsible outer elongate hollow member for navigation, the inner retention assembly for prosthesis securing, and the receiving member for controlled deployment. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function while simplifying overall control.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner retention assembly acts as an intermediary between the collapsible outer member and the prosthesis. It maintains prosthesis retention during collapse and deployment while allowing controlled release at the target site, simplifying the overall control mechanism.
3Length of stationary object
If the outer elongate hollow member collapses longitudinally to expose the prosthesis, then the delivery device length is reduced for easier access, but the mechanism for controlled deployment becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of expanding the delivery device to deploy the prosthesis, the system inverts the approach by collapsing the outer elongate hollow member longitudinally upon itself. This inversion reduces the delivery device length while exposing the prosthesis for deployment, simplifying the overall mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer elongate hollow member is pre-configured with collapse lines and a receiving member that guides the collapse process. This preliminary preparation ensures controlled deployment occurs automatically as the member collapses, reducing the need for additional complex deployment mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2~3
AI summary
Disclosed herein are embodiments of a prosthesis and delivery device, as well as methods of use. The delivery device can be composed of an inner retention assembly configured to carry an expandable prosthesis to an in situ target location. The inner retention assembly can slide within an outer elongate hollow member which can cover the expandable prosthesis. The outer elongate hollow member can further be longitudinally collapsed into a receiving member located at the distal end of the outer elongate hollow member.