Expandable Mitral Valve Ring With Net Support for Transcatheter Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for repairing mitral valve dysfunction, such as mitral regurgitation and prolapse, often require invasive open heart surgery, posing significant risks and recovery challenges, especially for elderly or health-compromised patients.
Innovation Solution
A radially expandable ring apparatus with a net structure and adjustable tubes, designed for minimally invasive implantation, which can be adjusted to fit different mitral valve geometries, securing the mitral annulus and preventing leaflet displacement to restore valve competence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If open heart surgery is performed to repair or replace the mitral valve, then valve function can be restored, but patients face morbidity and mortality risks and require several months of convalescence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical open heart surgery system with a transcatheter delivery system that uses catheters, balloons, and self-expanding frames to achieve valve repair through vascular access, eliminating the need for sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible components including a compliant frame structure, flexible anchors with arms, and deformable leaflet repair elements that can be compressed for delivery and then expanded or deployed at the target site to provide durable valve support and repair
2Reliability
If open heart surgery is performed to repair or replace the mitral valve, then valve function can be restored, but patients require a post-op convalescence period of several months
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical open heart surgery system with a transcatheter delivery system that uses catheters, balloons, and self-expanding frames to achieve valve repair through vascular access, eliminating the need for sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamically deployable structures including self-expanding frames that automatically expand upon release from the delivery catheter, and anchors that can be deployed and secured in real-time, allowing for rapid procedure completion without prolonged recovery
3Device complexity
If a fixed dimension ring apparatus is used for mitral valve repair, then the apparatus structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate the different geometries of mitral valves of different subjects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically deployable structures including self-expanding frames that automatically expand upon release from the delivery catheter, and anchors that can be deployed and secured in real-time, allowing for rapid procedure completion without prolonged recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes adjustable parameters including frame expansion ratio, anchor arm length and orientation, and leaflet grip force that can be modified during the procedure to match the specific anatomical parameters of each patient's mitral valve geometry
4Adaptability or versatility
If the ring is made radially adjustable to accommodate different mitral valve geometries, then adaptability is improved, but the apparatus complexity increases with securing members and adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically deployable structures including self-expanding frames that automatically expand upon release from the delivery catheter, and anchors that can be deployed and secured in real-time, allowing for rapid procedure completion without prolonged recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the apparatus into segmented components including a modular frame with multiple bars, separable anchors with individual arms, and distinct delivery catheters that can be assembled and adjusted independently, allowing for complexity management through modularity
Data Source
AI summary
A heart valve repair apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a radially expandable ring having a first ring component connectable to a second ring component by a pair of securing members, a tube structure, and a net structure extending distally from the ring to the tube structure. The net structure comprises a plurality of cells, each of which defines a hollow space which may comprise a quadrilateral shape or a pentagon shape. The net structure also comprises a plurality of positioning cords connecting the plurality of cells to the tube structure. In some embodiments, one or more tabs are arranged to project outwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the ring, aligned and dimensioned to allow passage of a tether therethrough.