Expandable LAA Gap Cover for Occluder Leak Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Therapeutic implants, such as occlusion devices, often experience leakage due to gaps formed between their circular shape and the non-circular anatomy of the heart, leading to undesirable blood flow and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An expandable implantable device is deployed via a catheter, which expands to cover non-circular gaps and is secured to the therapeutic device using a fastener, ensuring complete sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a circular therapeutic implant is deployed, then the implant can be manufactured with standard geometry, but gaps form between the implant and non-circular heart anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The implant transitions from a compressed circular state during delivery to an expanded non-circular state at the implantation site. The frame structure allows dynamic transformation from a deliverable form to a functional form that conforms to the non-circular LAA anatomy, resolving the contradiction between manufacturability and sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant changes its geometric parameters (shape, size, curvature) between delivery and implantation states. The frame expands from a small circular configuration to a larger non-circular configuration that matches the LAA opening, allowing standard manufacturing while achieving anatomical conformity.
2Ease of operation
If discrete sized implants are used, then the implant can be packaged and deployed, but gaps form when implant size does not match anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The implant provides dynamic size adjustment through expansion from a compressed delivery state to an expanded functional state. This allows a single device to adapt to different LAA sizes, eliminating the need for multiple discrete sizes while maintaining ease of deployment through catheter delivery.
3Ease of manufacture
If circular plugs are used to fill gaps, then the plug can be简单地 deployed, but non-circular gaps cannot be sufficiently plugged
Solution Approach 1:
The implant frame is designed with asymmetric non-circular geometry in its expanded state, featuring varying curvature and diameter in different directions. This asymmetric shape specifically addresses non-circular gaps between circular therapeutic devices and non-circular LAA anatomy, achieving effective sealing while maintaining deployment simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents blood flow through gaps of various shapes and sizes, enhancing the performance of therapeutic implants by ensuring a secure fit.
Implementation Method 1
the implantable device expands outward to contact the walls of the heart around the opening of the LAA
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for preventing leakage through a therapeutic implant are provided. In an exemplary aspect, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an implantable device configured to: contact heart tissue proximate to a left atrial appendage (LAA) with an occlusion device, cover a non-circular gap between the occlusion device and a wall of the LAA, and prevent blood flow into or out of the LAA. The implantable device includes a frame forming an umbrella-like shape having a bottom and sides curving upwards from the bottom, a mesh disposed over the bottom and at least a portion of the sides of the frame, and a fastener extending downward from the bottom of the frame and configured to attach to the occlusion device.