Valve Leaflet Laceration Electrode With Axial Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices for lacerating cardiac valve leaflets face challenges in maintaining axial stability and flexibility during expansion and contraction, leading to potential blockage of coronary arteries and complications in subsequent procedures.
Innovation Solution
The medical device incorporates an expandable element with a conductive member featuring an electrocautery electrode and undulating regions that accommodate length changes during expansion and contraction, ensuring axial stability through a sled and spool mechanism or biasing members, allowing for precise laceration of valve leaflets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the electrocautery electrode portion extends over the expandable element, then the electrode can accommodate length changes during expansion and contraction, but the device loses axial stability
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive member is formed with an undulating region that acts as a flexible structure, allowing the electrode portion to extend and contract while maintaining electrical continuity and accommodating length changes without compromising the overall device stability
Solution Approach 2:
The undulating region is designed to dynamically change its configuration between expanded and contracted states, enabling the electrode to adapt its length during device operation while the rigid portions maintain axial stability
2Manufacturing precision
If the expandable element is used for laceration, then precise laceration of valve leaflets is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines the electrocautery electrode portion with the expandable element structure, integrating the laceration function directly into the expandable component rather than using separate mechanisms, thereby enabling precise laceration while managing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive member is segmented into rigid portions and an undulating region, allowing the electrode portion to be positioned precisely for laceration while the undulating region absorbs the complexity of expansion and contraction movements
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 provides axial stability and flexibility, enabling safe laceration of valve leaflets to prevent coronary artery blockage and facilitate subsequent procedures like stent placement or angioplasty.
Implementation Method 1
An example may be found in a medical device for lacerating valve leaflets. The medical device includes an elongate shaft that extends proximally from a distal region and an expandable element that is secured within the distal region
Implementation Method 2
The conductive member may be operably coupled with the sled such that the sled may move distally against a biasing force provided by the spring when the expandable element expands into the expanded configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device may be used for lacerating valve leaflets and includes an elongate shaft extending proximally from a distal region, an expandable element that is secured within the distal region and is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, and a conductive member including an electrocautery electrode portion extending over the expandable element. The electrocautery electrode portion has a first length when the expandable element is in the collapsed configuration and a second length greater than the first length when the expandable element is in its expanded configuration. The conductive member is adapted to return the electrocautery electrode portion to the first length when the expandable element returns to the collapsed configuration.