Left Atrial Appendage Implant With Covered Attachment Point

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Solution Overview

Problem

In patients with atrial fibrillation, the left atrial appendage fails to contract effectively, leading to stagnant blood pooling and thrombi formation, which can break loose and cause stroke or heart attack, and existing medical devices for occluding the left atrial appendage have limitations.

Innovation Solution

An implant with an expandable framework and occlusive element, secured by an attachment point and anchor members, is deployed using a delivery device that includes a tether and release mechanism to secure and release the implant within the left atrial appendage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an implant is deployed to close off the left atrial appendage, then thrombi formation is reduced, but the attachment point may become exposed to blood flow causing potential complications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrombi formation reductionVSAvoidexposed attachment point

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An occlusive element is introduced as an intermediary component between the blood flow and the attachment point. This occlusive element covers the attachment point while maintaining the therapeutic occlusion function, thereby eliminating the harmful exposure of the attachment point to blood flow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the expandable framework is made secure with attachment points, then deployment reliability is improved, but the attachment points create exposed surfaces that may generate harmful effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment securityVSAvoidexposed attachment point

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The occlusive element serves as a mediating structure that covers the attachment point, allowing the framework to remain securely attached while preventing the attachment point from being directly exposed to blood flow, thus eliminating the harmful effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the left atrial appendage is occluded to prevent thrombi, then patient safety is improved, but the complexity of the implant device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidimplant structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The occlusive element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it occludes the left atrial appendage to prevent thrombi formation, covers the attachment point to eliminate exposure, and integrates with the expandable framework. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4721679A2Left atrial appendage implant with continuous covering

Publication Date: 2026.04.08 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

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AI summary

A system (100) for occluding a left atrial appendage (50), comprising:a delivery device including an outer sheath (110) and an inner elongate member (130) slidably disposed within a lumen (120) of the outer sheath; an implant (200) configured to occlude the left atrial appendage, the implant comprising: an expandable framework (210) configured to shift between a collapsed configuration when disposed within the outer sheath (110) and an expanded configuration when disposed outside of the outer sheath (110), wherein the expandable framework (210) includes an attachment point (240) configured to secure the expandable framework (210) to the delivery device; and an occlusive element (290) disposed on the expandable framework (210), wherein the occlusive element (290) covers the attachment point (240).