Dual-Side Spring V-Clip for Secure Left Atrial Appendage Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LAA clips for treating atrial fibrillation are inefficient in securely sealing the LAA orifice, leading to potential blood clots and increased stroke risk.
Innovation Solution
A dual side spring V-clip with elongate beams and a dual side spring assembly that maintains parallel alignment to resist lateral splaying, ensuring secure closure and exclusion of the LAA orifice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing LAA clips are used to seal the LAA orifice, then the sealing function is provided, but the seal is not secure enough leading to potential blood clots and increased stroke risk
Solution Approach 1:
The V-clip design employs curved beams that conform to the anatomical geometry of the LAA orifice, creating a more secure seal. The curved shape allows the clip to better adapt to the spherical/oval opening of the LAA, improving sealing reliability and reducing the risk of clot formation compared to straight or angular clip designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring assembly modifies the force parameters applied to the beams, providing controlled radial and lateral forces that ensure consistent sealing pressure. By adjusting the spring constants and pre-load forces, the system maintains reliable sealing under varying physiological conditions, directly addressing the insufficient sealing reliability of existing clips.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the V-clip uses a dual side spring assembly to maintain parallel alignment, then the alignment stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring assembly is divided into two independent side springs (right-side and left-side), each attached to different beams. This segmentation allows each spring to independently maintain alignment for its associated beam, providing stable parallel alignment while keeping each individual spring component relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual side spring assembly combines radial and lateral force functions into a single integrated mechanism. The springs simultaneously provide both radial force (to close the V-shape) and lateral force (to maintain parallel alignment), reducing the need for separate alignment mechanisms and thereby managing device complexity while achieving alignment stability.
3Reliability
If the V-clip applies consistent force to secure the LAA orifice, then the sealing effectiveness is improved, but the force distribution becomes difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The spring assembly is designed to automatically self-adjust and self-regulate the force application to the LAA orifice. The elastic properties of the springs provide inherent force control, where the springs naturally adjust their force output based on the tissue compliance and anatomical variations, eliminating the need for complex external force control mechanisms during deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring assembly provides dynamic force adjustment capabilities, allowing the V-clip to adapt to varying physiological conditions and tissue characteristics. The springs can dynamically modify the radial and lateral forces based on real-time conditions, ensuring consistent sealing effectiveness while simplifying force control compared to rigid fixed-force mechanisms.
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 V-clip effectively minimizes the LAA, reducing the risk of stroke by providing a secure seal and maintaining alignment to ensure consistent force application, even in compromised cardiac systems.
Implementation Method 1
a dual side spring assembly configured to urge the first and the second elongate beams from the open position to the closed position
Implementation Method 2
a respective proximal bend that is configured to resist lateral splaying movement
Data Source
AI summary
A clip and method provide for surgically minimizing or eliminating an atrial appendage of the patient using a clip. The clip includes first and second elongate beam. The clip includes a dual side spring assembly configured to urge the first and the second elongate beams from an open V-shaped position to a parallel closed position. The dual side spring assembly includes a right-side spring and a left-side spring having first and second terminal ends attached to distal sections respectively of the first and the second elongate beams. The right and the left-side springs extend proximally to a respective proximal bend connected by a lateral element that maintains alignment to resist lateral splaying movement of the first and the second elongate beams.