Mitral Valve Clip Auto-Locking Mechanism for Simpler Transcatheter Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mitral valve regurgitation, characterized by retrograde flow from the left ventricle into the left atrium, is often treated with invasive open-heart surgery, which is traumatic and has high mortality and morbidity, while transcatheter delivery methods require complex manipulations by physicians.
Innovation Solution
A mitral valve clip with a lock and stud mechanism that automatically transitions from an unlocked to a locked state when closed to a predetermined angle, allowing for simplified transcatheter implantation with reduced physician inputs, featuring a grip that engages a shank with a rough or smooth texture to restrict movement in one direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If open heart surgery with sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass is used for mitral valve repair, then valve repair effectiveness is improved, but patient trauma and mortality increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical open-heart surgery system (sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass) with a transcatheter delivery system that uses fluoroscopic guidance and catheter-based implantation to achieve mitral valve repair without requiring open chest surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a catheter as an intermediary delivery mechanism that allows the mitral valve clip to be implanted through the vascular system rather than requiring direct surgical access to the heart, thereby reducing patient trauma
2Object-affected harmful factors
If transcatheter delivery with multiple physician manipulations is used, then patient trauma is reduced, but procedure complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and lock the mitral valve clip in place through a self-service mechanism that requires minimal physician manipulation beyond simple deployment actions
Solution Approach 2:
The clip is pre-configured with the locking mechanism and delivery system, allowing the physician to simply deploy the device without needing to perform complex manual manipulations during the procedure
3Measurement precision
If manual manipulation for lock engagement is required, then precision control is improved, but procedure time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism automatically engages when the clip is deployed at the correct angle, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual manipulation while maintaining precise locking through the self-aligning mechanical design
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
Facilitates minimally invasive mitral valve repair by automating the locking process, reducing the complexity and invasiveness of transcatheter procedures, and minimizing the need for precise manual manipulation during implantation.
Implementation Method 1
The engageable portion of the shank may have notches or a rough texture that the grip can engage frictionally or mechanically
Data Source
AI summary
A mitral valve clip includes a stud, a lock, and two arms. The stud includes a shank, and the lock includes a frame relative to which the stud is translatable and into which the shank extends. The lock is able to prevent movement of the stud relative to the lock in at least one direction by locking engagement of the shank. The two arms are connected to the lock and the stud such that an angle between the arms depends on a location of the stud relative to the lock. The locking engagement of the shank that prevents movement of the stud relative to the lock in the at least one direction is only possible when the angle between the arms is below a predefined locking threshold.