Helical Anchor Assembly for Implantable Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing annuloplasty devices face challenges in achieving a compact delivery size while ensuring securement to the heart valve, as structural components often interfere with the reduction in size of the collapsed device.
Innovation Solution
The development of a helical anchor assembly with a tapered helical coil and anchor housing design, allowing for a compact configuration during delivery and enhanced retention at the treatment site, where the distal coils have increased diameters for improved holding strength and the anchor coil extends through an internally threaded section to prevent proximal withdrawal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If structural components are added to enhance retention and securement to the heart valve, then retention strength is improved, but the delivery size of the collapsed device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The helical anchor is designed to nest within the anchor housing during delivery, with the distal coils positioned within the bore of the anchor housing. This nesting configuration allows the anchor assembly to maintain a compact delivery profile while still providing enhanced retention through the helical anchor's doubled pullout load capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the anchor housing with bore, the helical anchor with multiple coils, and the distal extension. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the housing provides structural containment for compact delivery, while the helical coils provide retention strength, resolving the contradiction between size and retention.
2Strength
If the helical anchor distal coils are extended beyond the anchor housing bore, then pullout load is doubled, but the anchor housing diameter must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distal coils of the helical anchor are positioned to extend beyond the anchor housing bore, creating a nested configuration where the anchor protrudes from the housing. This allows the larger-diameter distal coils to provide doubled pullout load while the anchor housing maintains a compact diameter for delivery through standard catheters.
Solution Approach 2:
The helical anchor exhibits local quality variation with distal coils having larger diameters than proximal coils. The two distalmost coils have increased diameters specifically at the tissue penetration point to maximize pullout strength, while more proximal coils have smaller diameters to fit within the anchor housing during delivery.
3Ease of operation
If the implantable device is reduced to a compact size for delivery, then minimally invasive delivery is enabled, but structural components interfere with the reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The helical anchor nests within the anchor housing during the delivery phase, allowing the entire anchor assembly to be confined within a small delivery profile. This nesting enables minimally invasive delivery through standard catheters while maintaining all necessary structural components for securement.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor assembly transitions from a compact nested configuration during delivery to an expanded configuration at the implantation site. The helical anchor can be deployed from the anchor housing bore, transforming from a space-constrained nested state to a functional state with extended distal coils for tissue engagement and doubled pullout load.
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor assembly having a helical anchor extending through an anchor bore defined in the anchor housing. In some embodiments, at least one helical turn of the helical anchor extends beyond a portion of the anchor bore. In some embodiments, at least one helical turn of the helical anchor extends beyond a side wall of the anchor housing. In some embodiments, the helical turns of the helical anchors of anchor assemblies mounted adjacent one another on an implantable device nest within one another when the implantable device is in an unexpanded configuration. In some embodiments, the distalmost helical turn of the helical anchor has an outer diameter greater than more proximal helical turns of the helical anchor. In some embodiments, the outer diameters of the at least some of the helical turns of the helical anchor taper from a distal end to a proximal end of the helical anchor.