Loading Funnel Assembly for Implantable Device Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices, such as stents and prosthetic heart valves, require onsite installation due to specific storage conditions, leading to cumbersome and costly processes that risk damaging the devices during installation.
Innovation Solution
A combination storage and loading system with a locking collar assembly, loading funnel, and retainer that converts devices from an uncompressed to a compressed state, allowing for minimal interaction during loading onto a delivery device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If implantable medical devices are stored in specific conditions to preserve organic tissue, then the tissue is preserved, but the storage and installation process becomes cumbersome and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the storage container and loading device into a single integrated system. The container houses both the implantable medical device in preservation fluid and the loading mechanism, eliminating the need for separate storage and installation procedures. This merging maintains tissue preservation while simplifying the overall process.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading device is designed to automatically engage with the implantable medical device through a funnel mechanism. The device self-aligns and loads onto the delivery device without requiring complex manual manipulation or multiple steps, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining tissue integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If a detailed process is performed to install the medical device on the delivery device, then the device is installed, but the process becomes cumbersome and costly due to potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable medical device is pre-loaded into the container with the loading device attached before sterilization and storage. This preliminary action ensures that the device is already positioned and secured, eliminating the need for complex manual installation steps that could cause damage during the actual implantation procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading device acts as an intermediary between the implantable medical device and the delivery device. It provides a controlled interface that guides the medical device onto the delivery device without requiring direct manual handling, thereby reducing the risk of damage while ensuring proper installation.
3Ease of operation
If the implantable medical device is manually installed onto the delivery device, then the device can be loaded, but the risk of damage increases due to potential for error
Solution Approach 1:
The loading device automatically engages with the implantable medical device through a funnel mechanism that guides self-alignment. The device loads itself onto the delivery device without requiring complex manual manipulation, reducing operator error and damage risk while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The container and loading device are designed with protective features that cushion and protect the implantable medical device during the loading process. The funnel shape and constrained movement paths prevent accidental drops or improper handling, reducing damage risk before the device even leaves the container.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A loading device includes a locking collar assembly including a proximal end, a distal end, and a loading channel formed between the proximal end and the distal end. The device also includes a loading funnel coupled to the distal end of the locking collar assembly at a proximal end of the loading funnel. The loading funnel is configured to store a collapsible medical device in a partially collapsed state within a tapered interior volume of the loading funnel. The tapered interior volume decreases in volume from a distal end of the loading funnel to the proximal end of the loading funnel.