Self-Expanding Leaflet Anchor for Mitral Valve Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive procedures for repairing mitral valve regurgitation due to prolapsed mitral leaflets or ruptured chordae tendineae are complex and invasive, risking complications and requiring multiple steps, with existing devices like those described in WO 2008/101113 using sutures and clips that may not effectively simulate natural chord function.
Innovation Solution
A catheter device with a mechanical gripper and leaflet anchor that securely attaches an artificial chord to the mitral valve leaflet and papillary muscle using a self-expandable anchor, eliminating the need for sutures and complex procedures, and featuring a locking mechanism for adjusting chord length without additional clips, thereby simplifying the process and enhancing the repair's effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional open heart surgery techniques are used for mitral valve repair, then surgical effectiveness is improved, but invasiveness and complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical open-heart surgery approach with a catheter-based endovascular system that delivers artificial chords through minimally invasive access, eliminating the need for cardiopulmonary bypass and heart arrest while maintaining repair effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a catheter as an intermediary device that serves as a delivery mechanism for the artificial chords, allowing the repair procedure to be performed through minimally invasive access points rather than direct open surgical exposure
2Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive approaches with existing devices are used, then invasiveness is reduced, but procedure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated catheter system that can deliver and adjust artificial chords of varying lengths in one procedure, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices and procedures required by prior art
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates adjustable-length artificial chords that can be dynamically modified during the procedure, allowing the chord length to be adjusted after delivery to optimize the repair, rather than requiring pre-selected fixed-length chords and multiple intervention steps
3Reliability
If complex multi-stage procedures with sutures and clips are used, then anchor attachment is achieved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex suture and clip attachment mechanisms from the procedure, replacing them with a simplified self-expanding anchor system that achieves secure attachment through a single deployment action without requiring additional fastening components
4Device complexity
If fixed-length artificial chords are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different repair needs decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the artificial chord from a static fixed-length component to a dynamic adjustable-length component that can be modified during the procedure, allowing adaptation to different anatomical requirements while maintaining a relatively simple device architecture through teleoperated adjustment mechanisms
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 allows for a single, less invasive endovascular procedure to repair the mitral valve by securely attaching an artificial chord, reducing invasiveness, complications, and costs, while effectively mimicking natural chord function to address mitral regurgitation.
Implementation Method 1
The anchor is formed of a memory metal such as nitinol and has a 'flowered' shape with sharp 'petals' for hooking the anchor to body tissue. The flowered shape is flattened into a tube shape and held in a tube that is passed into the heart.
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor for implantation in body tissue in combination with a line, the anchor comprising a plurality of hooks for engagement with the body tissue, and wherein the anchor is made of an elastic material such that the anchor can be elastically deformed into a folded position from an unfolded position by application of a constraining force. The anchor further comprising a locking mechanism for clamping the line when, and being elastically deformable to release the line for adjustment of a length of the line, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a resiliently deformable locking segment integrated with a wall of the anchor and divided from the wall by at least one slit; wherein the anchor comprises a tubular body section defining said wall of the anchor; and wherein the tubular body section, the locking mechanism and the plurality of hooks comprise a single, unitary structure comprising the elastic material.