Expandable Polymer Heart Valve With Expansion-Groove Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional polymeric heart valves face issues with insufficient valve opening area and unevenness on the inner wall due to the design of support structure parts, affecting blood flow performance and durability, especially during valve-in-valve implantation.
Innovation Solution
An expandable polymeric heart valve with a hollow cylindrical insert featuring expansion grooves and limiting structures that transition between closed and open states, allowing for seamless blood flow in the original state and facilitating valve-in-valve implantation by optimizing the insert structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the support structure parts are overlapped to achieve expandable function, then the valve can be expanded for valve-in-valve implantation, but the inner wall becomes uneven causing protrusion and affecting blood flow performance
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple independent columns distributed around the circumference. Each column can expand independently without overlapping with others, eliminating the protrusion problem while maintaining the expandable function for valve-in-valve implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional cylindrical configuration. The columns are arranged radially around the central axis, allowing expansion in the radial dimension without creating inner wall protrusions that would interfere with blood flow.
2Area of stationary object
If the valve opening area is increased to improve blood flow, then hemodynamics similar to human heart valves is achieved, but the valve becomes more complex to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The valve opening area is controlled by adjusting the radial distance between the columns and the central axis. By changing this geometric parameter during the molding process, the valve opening area can be optimized for hemodynamics without fundamentally changing the manufacturing method, keeping it simple and suitable for mechanized production.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a new valve is implanted in the damaged valve through catheter technology, then the trauma and risk of secondary thoracotomy is avoided, but the valve opening area becomes insufficient due to the damaged valve constriction
Solution Approach 1:
The new valve is designed to be nested within the damaged valve structure. The expandable columns of the new valve can be inserted through the catheter into the constrained space of the damaged valve, then expanded radially to create sufficient opening area without requiring removal of the damaged valve or open surgery.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided by the present invention is an expandable polymeric heart valve. The expandable polymeric heart valve comprises valve leaflets and a valve frame. The valve frame has a hollow cylindrical structure. The valve further comprises an insert adapted to be embedded in the valve frame along an axial direction. The insert is provided with at least one expansion groove in a circumferential direction. The expansion groove has a closed state and an open state. The insert is provided with a limiting structure at an outer wall of the two ends of the expansion groove. The limiting structure defines an expansion width when the expansion groove is in the open state. The present invention achieves expansibility after valve damage while ensuring blood flow properties in the original state of normal use of the valve.