Loop Anchoring Intraluminal Vessel Prosthesis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current intraluminal vascular prostheses face challenges in securely anchoring heart valve prostheses, especially in type A aortic dissections, due to the risk of prosthesis slipping or migrating, and the stress caused by traditional suture fixation on already impaired vessel walls.

Innovation Solution

A vascular prosthesis with elongated, loop-shaped anchoring structures at the proximal end, which are fixed to the stent framework and extend beyond the proximal end to securely anchor in the heart without disrupting natural valve function, allowing for minimally invasive placement and avoiding additional suturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If suture fixation is used to secure the prosthesis to the vessel wall, then the prosthesis is anchored reliably, but the already compromised vessel walls are further stressed and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchoring reliabilityVSAvoidvessel wall stress
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful sutures are extracted and replaced by integrated anchoring structures that are part of the prosthesis itself. The loop-shaped anchoring structures at the proximal end provide secure fixation without requiring external sutures that would further stress the compromised vessel walls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchoring function is merged into the prosthesis structure itself through integrated loop-shaped anchoring structures at the proximal end. This eliminates the need for separate suture fixation and reduces the number of intervention points on the vessel wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the prosthesis is placed without additional anchoring structures, then the placement is simpler, but the prosthesis risks slippage or migration due to heart movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacement simplicityVSAvoidposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Anchoring structures are added locally at the proximal end of the prosthesis where they are most needed for preventing migration. The rest of the prosthesis maintains its simple structure, preserving ease of placement while providing targeted stability where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a covered proximal section is used, then the vessel wall is protected, but the anchoring capability is reduced compared to non-covered sections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevessel wall protectionVSAvoidanchoring strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis is segmented into covered and non-covered sections, with the covered proximal section protecting the vessel wall and the loop-shaped anchoring structures providing the necessary anchoring strength. The anchoring structures are positioned to engage with the vessel wall through the covered section, maintaining both protection and grip.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3528748B2Intraluminal vessel prosthesis for implantation into the heart or cardiac vessels of a patient
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 NVT AG
  • EP3528748B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3528748B2 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3528748B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an intraluminal vessel prosthesis (10) for implantation into the heart (70) and/or into cardiac vessels of a patient, in particular for anchoring in the region of the heart valve flap (71). The vessel prosthesis has a stent frame (14) and a prosthesis material (16), by means of which the stent frame (14) is at least partly covered in such a way that a covered proximal portion (15) and an uncovered distal portion (17) are formed. Further, the vessel prosthesis (10) has at its proximal end (12) at least one elongate wire-shaped anchoring structure (20) with a substantially loop-shaped form, which is anchored at the stent frame (14) with two ends (23, 24) and which, with the proximal end (22) thereof in the form of a loop (21), is positioned pointing in the proximal direction (12') and projecting beyond the proximal end (12) of the stent frame (14).