Deformable Annuloplasty Ring Core for Valve-in-Ring Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current annuloplasty rings used in heart valve repair, particularly for mitral and tricuspid valves, face challenges such as excess rigidity, uniplanar shape, and difficulty in becoming fully circular, which can lead to suboptimal results during valve-in-ring procedures, including leakage and deformation of transcatheter heart valves.
Innovation Solution
The development of annuloplasty rings with a core capable of deformation between configurations, featuring flexible or weakened portions, a resilient intermediate layer, and a fabric cover, allowing for adjustable rigidity and shape adaptation, including the use of materials like Elgiloy, Nitinol, and PEEK, and an attachment mechanism to convert incomplete rings into complete ones for improved anchoring and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid annuloplasty rings are used to provide strong support and prevent annular dilatation, then the durability and support function are improved, but the ability to adapt to annular motion during cardiac cycle is lost and surgical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The annuloplasty ring incorporates a shape memory alloy core that can dynamically change its mechanical properties between rigid and flexible states through temperature control, allowing it to adapt to annular motion during cardiac cycle while maintaining structural support when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The ring's rigidity parameter is made variable through the use of shape memory alloy that changes its modulus of elasticity in response to temperature changes, enabling transition from a rigid state for structural support to a flexible state for accommodating physiological motion
2Strength
If rigid annuloplasty rings are used to provide strong support, then the support function is improved, but the ring cannot be deformed into a circular shape for optimal valve-in-ring procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory alloy core enables the ring to transition between rigid and flexible states dynamically, allowing deformation into circular shape during procedures when flexibility is needed, while maintaining rigidity for structural support when required
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature-controlled parameter changes in the shape memory alloy allow the ring to switch between deformable and rigid states, facilitating ease of operation during implantation while maintaining structural integrity for support
3Ease of operation
If incomplete annuloplasty rings are used to simplify implantation, then ease of implantation is improved, but anchoring strength and support are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory alloy core allows the incomplete ring to be dynamically transformed into a complete circular configuration after implantation, providing both ease of implantation and subsequent anchoring strength through the phase transition capability
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature-induced parameter changes enable the ring to transition from an incomplete open configuration during implantation to a complete closed circular configuration afterward, achieving both ease of implantation and adequate anchoring strength
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 solution enables annuloplasty rings to maintain shape and provide durable support during heart valve repair, facilitating successful valve-in-ring procedures by allowing deformation into a circular shape and providing a stable anchor for transcatheter heart valves, reducing the risk of leakage and deformation.
Implementation Method 1
a core defining a closed ring and including one or more flexible portions, wherein the core is capable of deformation about the flexible portion between a first configuration and a second configuration upon application of a predetermined force
Implementation Method 2
a resilient intermediate layer
Data Source
AI summary
An annuloplasty ring is provided including a core defining a closed ring and comprising one or more flexible portions, wherein the core is capable of deformation about the flexible portion between a first configuration and a second configuration upon application of a predetermined force; a resilient intermediate layer; and a fabric cover layer.