LAA Exclusion Spring Clip Structure for Minimally Invasive Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LAA occlusion clips are large, obstruct surgical views, and difficult to use in minimally invasive surgeries, necessitating improvements in construction and operation for enhanced usability and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The development of an exclusion device with a first and second beam coupled by U-shaped springs, featuring crimp connections and stress reduction features, allowing for a smaller profile and improved maneuverability, along with a biocompatible fabric cover promoting tissue ingrowth and adjustable closure force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If larger LAA occlusion clips are used to ensure secure occlusion, then occlusion effectiveness is improved, but surgical view obstruction increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exclusion device is divided into two separate beams (first beam and second beam) that can be positioned independently on either side of the LAA. This segmentation allows the device to achieve secure occlusion through the combined action of both beams while maintaining a smaller individual profile that reduces surgical view obstruction compared to a single large clip.
2Reliability
If larger LAA occlusion clips are used to ensure secure occlusion, then occlusion effectiveness is improved, but difficulty in minimally invasive surgery increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into two smaller beams coupled by springs, the overall profile is reduced to fit through minimally invasive surgical access points while maintaining occlusion effectiveness through the combined clamping action of both beams on the LAA.
Solution Approach 2:
The springs provide dynamic mechanical coupling between the two beams, allowing the device to adapt to the LAA geometry while maintaining secure occlusion. The spring mechanism enables the beams to exert continuous closing force, ensuring reliable occlusion despite the reduced size required for minimally invasive delivery.
3Reliability
If spring force is increased to improve closing action, then occlusion effectiveness is improved, but stress concentration in spring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring design incorporates local quality variations through features such as varied wire diameter along the spring length, non-uniform coil spacing, or strategic placement of reinforcement elements. These local modifications allow the spring to distribute stress more evenly while maintaining the necessary closing force, preventing stress concentration that would compromise spring strength.
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 device provides effective occlusion of the LAA with reduced surgical interference, facilitating minimally invasive procedures and enhancing user experience and patient safety.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring operatively coupled to the first beam and the second beam to exert a closing force on the first beam and the second beam and bias the first beam and the second beam in a closing direction
Implementation Method 2
The first crimp connection may include a plastically deformed portion of the at least one spring engaged with a plastically deformed portion of the first beam
Data Source
AI summary
Exclusion devices for anatomical structures, and related instruments and related methods, are disclosed. An exclusion device for an anatomical structure may include a first beam, a second beam, and a first spring operatively coupled to the first beam and the second beam to exert a closing force on the first beam and the second beam, where the first spring is configured to maintain the first beam and the second beam along a common plane, and where the first spring is configured to be exclusively repositionable along the common plane.