Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Device with Inverted Anchoring Skirt

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical devices fail to effectively occlude the left atrial appendage, leading to thrombus formation and embolic stroke risk due to inadequate contraction during arrhythmias, and existing solutions do not provide sufficient anchoring without tissue trauma.

Innovation Solution

A medical occlusive device with a frame composed of elongate occlusive frame members, a hub member, and a covering component that allows blood passage while preventing emboli, designed for minimally invasive deployment to securely occlude the left atrial appendage without traumatic piercing, featuring a distal portion, laterally facing skirt, and inverted section for enhanced anchoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional occlusive devices are used to block the left atrial appendage, then emboli passage is prevented, but tissue trauma occurs due to inadequate anchoring mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue traumaVSAvoidanchoring reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the anchoring function into multiple independent elements: elongate frame members with laterally facing skirts that engage the appendage wall, and inverted sections with additional anchoring elements. This segmentation allows distributed anchoring forces across multiple contact points, achieving reliable fixation without concentrated tissue trauma.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs an inverted section that folds back toward the proximal end, creating anchoring surfaces that engage the appendage wall from within. This inverted configuration allows the device to anchor itself using the appendage's own geometry, preventing trauma associated with external piercing or anchoring mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the left atrial appendage is occluded during arrhythmias, then thrombus formation is prevented, but blood flow disturbance persists

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrombus preventionVSAvoidblood flow disturbance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a porous covering component that allows selective passage of blood while blocking thrombus and emboli. The porous structure permits normal blood flow through the occluded appendage, preventing blood stasis and associated flow disturbances while maintaining the occlusive function against pathological particles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The device applies different functional properties to different regions: the occlusive face portion provides complete blockage at the ostium to prevent thrombus formation, while the porous covering on the distal portion allows controlled blood flow. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between effective occlusion and maintenance of physiological flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a covering component is added to prevent emboli passage, then embolic stroke risk is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveembolic stroke riskVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The porous covering component is integrated directly onto the frame structure, merging the occlusive function with the structural support function. This integration eliminates the need for separate covering components or additional anchoring devices, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining embolic protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The frame members serve multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural support, creating anchoring surfaces through lateral skirts, forming the occlusive face, and supporting the porous covering. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device design while achieving embolic stroke prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3120786B1Space filling devices
Publication Date: 2022.07.27 WL GORE & ASSOC INC
  • EP3120786B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3120786B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3120786B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A device frame includes a plurality of elongate frame members (102), first and second hub members (108, 116) substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the device frame, and a coupling element (689) that couples the first hub member to the second hub member. The device frame includes a face section (110), a laterally facing skirt section (112), and an inverted section (114). First portions of the elongate members define the face section and extend radially from the first hub member. Second portions of the elongate members define the laterally facing skirt section and extend in a distal, axial, and helical direction along a first rotational direction from the face section. Third portions of the elongate members define the inverted section and extend in a generally proximal direction from a distal portion of the laterally facing skirt section to the second hub member along a rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.