Percutaneous Tissue Anchor Driver With Coplanar Eyelet Slot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manipulating and retrieving tissue anchors are inefficient and lack the ability to apply torque or rotational forces effectively, leading to challenges in implanting and removing medical implants.
Innovation Solution
A tool is designed to be articulatably coupled to a tissue anchor, featuring a first and second arm that define a concavity, allowing for torque application and de-anchoring, with a housing that inhibits articulation and a controller for adjusting the arm positions to facilitate efficient manipulation and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tool is articulatably coupled to a tissue anchor, then the tool can be aligned with the tissue anchor at non-zero angles, but the tool cannot apply torque effectively to the tissue anchor
Solution Approach 1:
The tool transitions from an articulatable state (allowing angular alignment) to a non-articulatable state (enabling torque application). The articulation mechanism is dynamically controlled to switch between these states based on the operational requirement, resolving the contradiction between alignment flexibility and torque effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If the tool is configured to be advanced through a sleeve of an implant, then the tool can access tissue anchors, but the tool cannot effectively de-anchor the tissue anchors
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into functional segments: a shaft for advancement through the sleeve, a distal tip for engaging tissue anchors, and a rotational mechanism for de-anchoring. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively, enabling both access and reliable de-anchoring operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tool is configured to couple to the eyelet at non-zero angles, then the tool can engage the tissue anchor, but the tool cannot subsequently be aligned with the tissue anchor
Solution Approach 1:
The tool's articulation mechanism is dynamically adjusted during the procedure: first engaging the eyelet at non-zero angles for flexibility, then transitioning to a aligned configuration for precise torque application. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between engagement adaptability and alignment precision.
4Productivity
If existing methods are used for manipulating tissue anchors, then the procedures can be performed, but the methods are inefficient and lack torque application capability
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is pre-configured with an integrated rotational mechanism that enables torque application during the de-anchoring process. This preliminary preparation of the tool's functional capabilities significantly improves procedure efficiency and ease of operation compared to existing methods that lack such integrated features.
Data Source
AI summary
System for use with tissue of a heart comprises a tissue anchor comprising an engaging head that has a coupling eyelet that defines an eyelet plane, and a helical tissue-coupling element, reversibly anchorable to the tissue, and having a central helix axis that lies on the eyelet plane. The system also comprises an anchor driver, having a distal portion that has a casing that defines a slot, the slot defining a slot plane, and dimensioned to receive at least part of the eyelet therein in a manner in which the eyelet plane is coplanar with the slot plane. The anchor driver also comprises a detent, configured to reversibly inhibit movement of the eyelet with respect to the slot. The anchor driver is configured to anchor the tissue anchor to the tissue by rotating the tissue anchor by applying a rotational force to the eyelet. Other embodiments are also provided.