Elastic Hook Anchor Sealing for Minimally Invasive Heart Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive heart valve repair techniques, such as those using artificial chordae lines, face challenges with complex procedures and risk of anchor dislodgment due to high velocity jets of blood, leading to weakened implantation and prolonged healing times.
Innovation Solution
An anchor configuration with elastically deformable hooks and a plugging device that encircles the hooks to enhance tissue contact, sealing entry sites and promoting tissue ingrowth, thereby stabilizing the anchor and improving tensile strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional anchors with hooks are used to implant artificial chordae lines, then the procedure can be performed minimally invasively, but the hooks create high velocity jets of blood that weaken implantation and prolong healing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful high velocity jet effect into a beneficial sealing mechanism. The hooks are designed to create controlled jets that draw tissue into the anchor body, and the plugging device is positioned to seal these entry sites, transforming the harmful jet effect into a beneficial tissue drawing and sealing mechanism that strengthens implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a plugging device that acts as a flexible seal within the anchor body. This plugging device conformally seals the entry sites where hooks penetrate the tissue, preventing blood jets from weakening the implantation while maintaining the minimally invasive approach.
2Strength
If anchors are implanted with hooks that penetrate body tissue, then secure attachment can be achieved, but fluid flow through entry sites weakens the anchor-tissue bond and delays healing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the harmful fluid flow through entry sites into a beneficial sealing mechanism. The plugging device is specifically designed to seal these entry sites, converting the pathway for harmful jets into a sealed interface that promotes faster healing while maintaining strong anchor-tissue bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The plugging device serves as an intermediary element between the hooks and the body tissue. It fills the space created by hook penetration and seals the interface, mediating between the mechanical attachment function of the hooks and the healing requirements of the tissue by preventing harmful fluid flow.
3Ease of operation
If multiple components (anchor, suture, clip) are used to repair the heart valve, then the repair can be performed without open heart surgery, but the complexity increases the risk of component dislodgment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the anchor and the plugging device into a single integrated component. The plugging device is positioned within the anchor body and seals the entry sites, eliminating the need for separate clips and sutures to secure the anchor. This integration reduces the number of components that could potentially dislodge while maintaining the minimally invasive approach.
4Ease of operation
If the anchor is designed with elastic material that returns to unfolded position, then the anchor can be implanted through catheter, but the elastic force may cause the anchor to move after implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The plugging device acts as an intermediary that stabilizes the anchor after deployment. When the elastic anchor returns to its unfolded position, the plugging device seals the entry sites and anchors the structure in place, preventing the elastic material from causing excessive movement while maintaining the catheter-based implantation advantage.
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 anchor configuration effectively reduces anchor movement and enhances tissue integration, ensuring secure implantation and faster healing by impeding fluid flow through entry sites, thus improving the durability and stability of the implant.
Implementation Method 1
the anchor is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into the folded position by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded position when no constraining force is applied
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is an anchor (10) for implantation in body tissue (12) the anchor (10) comprising: a number of hooks (62) for engagement with the body tissue (12) and having a folded and unfolded position, wherein the anchor (10) is made of an elastic material such that it can be elastically deformed into the folded position by application of a constraining force, and will return to the unfolded position when no constraining force is applied; and a plugging device (14) for enhancing contact with the body tissue (12); wherein the plugging device (14) is for combining with one or more parts of the anchor (10) to provide the enhanced contact; and wherein at least one of the hooks (62) is encircled by the plugging device. The anchor (10) may be in combination with a line (14), wherein the line (14) is a part of the plugging device, with the line (14) optionally being joined to the anchor 10 by a knotting configuration (90) comprising a plurality of loops (94, 96) around the anchor (10); and wherein at least two of the hooks (62) are each encircled by at least one loop of the plurality of loops (94, 96).