Expandable Heart Tissue Anchors for Catheter-Based Tricuspid Repair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating tricuspid regurgitation require open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, leading to complications and prolonged recovery times, and there is a need for minimally invasive procedures to reduce patient health risks and recovery time while preserving the tricuspid valve shape.

Innovation Solution

The development of a heart valve anchor with radially expandable portions that can be delivered via a catheter and deployed to compress and secure annular valve tissue, using a minimally invasive procedure to replace pledgets and sutures, and optionally include a fabric material to promote tissue growth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is used to treat tricuspid regurgitation, then the tricuspid valve can be repaired using traditional surgical methods, but the patient experiences complications and prolonged recovery time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve repair effectivenessVSAvoidpatient complications and recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical cardiopulmonary bypass system with a catheter-based delivery system that navigates through venous access to deploy the anchor device directly at the tricuspid valve site, eliminating the need for external bypass equipment and associated complications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a catheter as an intermediary delivery mechanism that transports the collapsible anchor device through the bloodstream to the target valve, enabling minimally invasive access without requiring open heart surgery or cardiopulmonary bypass

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If traditional surgical methods with pledgets and sutures are used, then the tricuspid valve can be secured, but the original valve shape is altered and recovery is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve tissue securingVSAvoidtricuspid valve shape preservation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a collapsible anchor device with flexible radially expandable portions that can be compressed for delivery and then expanded at the target site to secure valve tissue without rigid structures that would alter the natural valve geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor device transitions from a collapsed delivery state to an expanded deployed state, allowing it to adapt to the valve tissue geometry dynamically and secure the tissue while preserving the natural shape through controlled expansion rather than rigid fixation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If cardiopulmonary bypass is used during surgery, then the heart can be operated on, but the patient is exposed to emboli, hemolysis and inflammatory response

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical accessibilityVSAvoidemboli, hemolysis and inflammatory response

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the cardiopulmonary bypass mechanical system with a catheter-based approach that maintains natural blood flow through the heart and lungs, eliminating the harmful interactions between blood and bypass equipment that cause emboli, hemolysis, and inflammation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows the patient's own circulatory system to perform the function of oxygenation and filtration that would otherwise require the bypass machine, by maintaining natural blood flow through the heart and lungs during the procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This approach allows for tricuspid regurgitation repair without cardiopulmonary bypass, reducing complications and accelerating patient recovery by using a minimally invasive catheter-based system that secures the tricuspid valve effectively.

Implementation Method 1

the first and second radially expandable portions are configured to radially expand when the anchor is compressed along the longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadial expansion:

Implementation Method 2

the first and second radially expandable portions are configured to compress together annular valve tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3389565B1Heart tissue anchors

Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

A heart valve anchor has a body that includes a distal portion, a distal end, a proximal portion, and a proximal end. The distal end and the proximal end define a longitudinal axis. The body has an expandable portion that includes a first radially expandable portion at the distal portion of the body, a second radially expandable portion at the proximal portion of the body, and a root portion disposed between the first and second radially expandable portions. The body has a first configuration adapted to be housed at least partially within a tissue penetrating device, and a second configuration in which the first and second radially expandable portions are partially or fully expanded such that the anchor engages tissue in a region between the first and second radially expandable portions.