Coring Device Tool Holder for Centered Heart Pump Implantation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heart pump implantation systems face challenges such as significant blood loss, limited mechanical strength, and suboptimal positioning of the opening relative to the heart valve during implantation on a beating heart, leading to inefficient blood flow.

Innovation Solution

A coring device with a movable coring head and actuating mechanism, combined with a tool holder for surgical instruments, ensures precise alignment and centering of the opening relative to the heart valve, allowing for the introduction of an anchoring device and minimizing blood loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the opening is made in the ventricular wall during beating heart implantation, then the heart pump can be implanted, but significant blood loss occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplantation capabilityVSAvoidblood loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The coring device creates a precise opening in the ventricular wall before the heart pump is implanted. The opening is made with a coring head that cuts through the tissue wall, and the device includes a holder that maintains the opening's shape and position to facilitate subsequent implantation of the heart pump and anchoring device while minimizing blood loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device introduces an intermediary anchoring device with collars that are pressed against the ventricular wall to secure the heart pump in place. The collars act as intermediaries between the heart pump and the ventricular wall, providing mechanical fixation while the coring device maintains a controlled opening through which the pump is introduced

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the collar dimensions are reduced to facilitate passage through the opening, then the implantation system can be installed, but the mechanical strength is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassage through openingVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring device is divided into multiple collars (first collar and second collar) that can be independently positioned and pressed against the ventricular wall. This segmentation allows each collar to be optimized for its specific function - the first collar facilitates passage through the opening while the second collar provides enhanced mechanical strength and anchoring capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The collars are designed to be movable and adjustable during implantation. The actuating mechanism allows the coring head and collars to be positioned dynamically - the collars can be moved into place after the opening is made, and their position can be adjusted to optimize both passage through the opening and subsequent mechanical strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the opening is not precisely positioned relative to the heart valve, then the implantation can be performed, but the blood flow efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplantation speedVSAvoidinefficient blood flow
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device replaces purely mechanical positioning with a guidance system that uses a flexible guide element visible through the ventricular wall. The guide element is inserted through the aortic valve and visible from the external surface, allowing the coring device to be precisely oriented relative to the heart valve to ensure optimal opening position for efficient blood flow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible guide element is made translucent or transparent, allowing it to be visualized through the ventricular wall from the external surface. This visual guidance system enables precise positioning of the opening relative to the heart valve by observing the guide element's position and orientation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP3796852B1Coring device and coring and insertion assembly comprising such a device
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 FINEHEART
  • EP3796852B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3796852B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3796852B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a coring device for forming an opening in a tissue wall, this device comprising: - a body having a longitudinal axis, said body having a proximal end and a distal end, said body having an internal recess, - a coring head (13) having a transection blade (14), this head being movable between a rest position and an actuated position, - an actuation mechanism for moving said head between said positions, said mechanism having an actuation rod (15), at one end of which said movable head is placed, - a lumen (20) extending through at least the proximal end of said body, said actuation rod (15) and said coring head (13) to allow the passage of a flexible guide element, and - the distal end of said body forms a support (21) for a surgical tool, this tool support (21) being configured, on the one hand, to receive a hollow surgical tool (22) with a positive fit and to support this tool, this tool surrounding the distal end of said body when it is placed on said tool support (21), by being coaxial with said coring axis, and, on the other hand, to permit linear guiding of said surgical tool (22) during the movement of the latter towards the outside of the coring device.