Medical Securing Device Guiding Trails for Cardiac Implant Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cardiac implant devices face challenges in securing objects, such as cardiac implants, into the annulus of heart valves due to time-consuming manual suturing, potential knot loosening, and difficulty in precise positioning, especially in catheter-based procedures, which increases risks and recovery time.

Innovation Solution

A medical securing device featuring an elongated sheath with guiding trails and a securing member introduction and retrieval device, allowing for controlled movement and precise placement of sutures or other securing members, minimizing tissue damage and facilitating minimally invasive procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual suturing is used to secure cardiac implants into the annulus, then the securing can be performed with simple equipment, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and increases surgical risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocedural timeVSAvoidsurgical risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specialized suturing device as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the tissue. This device includes a needle carrier, suture, and guiding mechanisms that automate and precisionize the suturing process, thereby reducing procedural time and surgical risks while maintaining secure implant fixation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional manual mechanical suturing with a more advanced mechanical system that includes guided needle insertion, automated suture deployment, and controlled knot tying. This substitution reduces the time-consuming nature of manual suturing while improving precision and reducing surgical risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional suturing methods are used, then the equipment required is simple, but precise positioning of sutures becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuture placement accuracyVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suturing device is segmented into distinct functional components: a needle carrier for precise needle insertion, a suture delivery mechanism, and a guiding system with trails. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, achieving high suture placement accuracy while managing overall device complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces guiding trails that constrain needle and suture movement along predetermined three-dimensional paths. This adds a spatial dimension control mechanism that ensures precise suture placement at specific locations and angles, overcoming the limitations of traditional two-dimensional manual suturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If manual knot tying is performed, then the equipment remains simple, but knot loosening may occur compromising securing strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring strengthVSAvoidknot stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The suturing device incorporates self-securing mechanisms where the device itself performs the knot tying and locking actions without requiring separate manual operations. The guided needle and suture system automatically creates secure knots that are less prone to loosening, thereby improving both securing strength and knot stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If catheter-based procedures are used for minimally invasive access, then patient recovery is faster, but precise positioning and securing becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveminimally invasive accessVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates three-dimensional guiding trails within the catheter structure that constrain and guide needle and suture movement along precise predetermined paths. This allows the catheter-based minimally invasive approach to achieve positioning accuracy comparable to open surgery, as the guiding trails provide spatial constraints that ensure accurate suture placement despite the limited access route

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3342355B1Medical securing device for securing an object with a securing member
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 MEDTENTIA INTERNATIONAL LTD OY(FI)
  • EP3342355B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2B
  • EP3342355B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP3342355B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4D

AI summary

A medical securing device (100) for securing an object (400A, 400B) with a securing member (102) into a tissue comprises an elongated sheath (101) comprising proximal and distal ends, and a securing member introduction device (113) having proximal (113A) and distal (113B) ends, said distal end (113B) being configured to extend from the sheath (101). The medical securing device comprises also a guiding trail (105). At least one point (113C) of the securing member introduction device (113) is configured to travel along said first guiding trail (105) and thereby control a defined movement of the distal end (113B) of said securing member introduction device (113) when extending from the sheath (101) and so to introduce the securing member (102) to the object (400A, 400B) and to secure said object to the tissue (20) with the securing member (102).