Hingeable Occluder-Anchor for Left Atrial Appendage Repositioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implantable devices for modifying the left atrial appendage face challenges due to variability in size and shape, limited deployment orientation, and difficulty in easy positioning and repositioning, leading to inadequate performance in addressing atrial fibrillation-related stroke risks.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with an occluder and anchor portion, featuring a hingeable coupling and anchoring tines, allows for adjustable deployment and secure attachment within the left atrial appendage, accompanied by a tissue growth member to promote endothelialization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current implantable devices are used for left atrial appendage modification, then the basic occlusion function is achieved, but the devices cannot accommodate variability in size and shape of the appendage, resulting in inadequate performance
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple segments including an occluder portion with occluder segments and an anchor portion with anchor segments. These segments can be independently positioned and adjusted to accommodate varying sizes and shapes of the left atrial appendage, allowing the device to adapt to different anatomical configurations while maintaining reliable occlusion function.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates movable and adjustable components that allow dynamic repositioning after initial deployment. The anchor portion can be repositioned relative to the occluder portion, and the overall device can be adjusted to match the specific geometry of the patient's appendage, thereby maintaining both adaptability and performance reliability.
2Ease of operation
If current implantable devices are used, then occlusion is achieved, but limited deployment orientation and difficulty in positioning and repositioning occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device features dynamic components including a hingeable coupling between the occluder and anchor portions, and movable anchor segments that can be repositioned. This allows the device to be deployed in various orientations and adjusted during the procedure to achieve optimal positioning without requiring overly complex deployment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the device into independently controllable portions (occluder segments, anchor segments), each segment can be positioned and oriented separately, simplifying the overall deployment process and enabling flexibility in positioning while avoiding the need for a single complex mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a hingeable coupling between occluder and anchor portions is implemented, then positioning flexibility is enhanced, but device structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hingeable coupling provides a simple mechanical joint that enables relative movement between the occluder and anchor portions. This dynamic connection allows positioning flexibility and adaptation to different anatomical configurations while maintaining a relatively simple structural design compared to more complex articulation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, methods and systems are provided for occluding an opening within the tissue of a body, such as a left atrial appendage. In one embodiment, a medical device includes an occluder portion and an anchor portion. The occluder portion includes a hub that defines an axis, the occluder portion extending between a proximal end coupled to the hub and a distal end defining an occluder eyelet adjacent thereto. The anchor portion extends between a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to an anchor hub and the second end defining an anchor eyelet adjacent thereto and hingeably coupled to the occluder eyelet. With this arrangement, the anchor hub is moveable along the axis to move the anchor portion between a retracted position and a deployed position upon the occluder portion being in an expanded position.