Leaflet Resection Jaw Mechanism for Valve-in-Valve Coronary Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Deployment of a second transcatheter heart valve prosthesis can obstruct coronary blood flow due to displacement of the first implanted valve's leaflets towards the coronary ostia during deployment, necessitating the resection of valve leaflets to prevent obstruction.

Innovation Solution

A leaflet resection device with a first and second jaw, each pivotably connected, and linkage assemblies actuated by an actuator, allowing resection blades to move in a curved path to remove at least 50% of the leaflet, facilitating safe implantation of a second transcatheter valve.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a second transcatheter heart valve prosthesis is deployed within a previously implanted valve, then the valve-in-valve procedure can be performed to treat valve dysfunction, but coronary artery obstruction occurs due to leaflet displacement towards the coronary ostia

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve-in-valve procedure safetyVSAvoidcoronary artery obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by resecting the leaflets of the first implanted valve before deploying the second transcatheter valve prosthesis. The resection device removes portions of the leaflets that would otherwise be displaced during deployment and obstruct the coronary ostia, thereby preventing coronary artery obstruction before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting and removing the problematic leaflet tissue that causes coronary obstruction. The resection device cuts and removes specific portions of the leaflets, separating them from the valve structure so they cannot interfere with coronary blood flow during the valve-in-valve procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If valve leaflets are resected to prevent coronary obstruction, then safe deployment of the second valve is enabled, but the device complexity increases due to the need for specialized resection mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoronary blood flow safetyVSAvoidresection device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by using a linkage assembly with movable arms that can transition between different configurations. The arms pivot and move relative to each other to enable the resection blades to follow a curved path, allowing the device to adapt its shape during deployment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the resection mechanism into separate components: multiple arms, pivot points, and resection blades. This modular linkage assembly allows each component to perform a specific function independently while working together to achieve the overall resection goal, simplifying the design and manufacturing of the complex device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12544223B2Valve leaflet resection device

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 MEDTRONIC INC

AI summary

A leaflet resection device includes a first jaw, a second jaw pivotably connected to the first jaw, a first linkage assembly coupled to the first jaw, and a second linkage assembly coupled to the second jaw. The second linkage assembly includes a first resection blade and a second resection blade that are configured to cut a leaflet of a native heart valve or a previously implanted valve prosthesis along a curved path when the first and second linkage assemblies are actuated.