Mitral Valve Frame Anchoring to Prevent Migration and Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing prosthetic valves for the mitral valve face challenges due to the distinct anatomy and lack of sufficient structure for anchoring, leading to difficult and inaccurate placement, which can adversely affect patients during and after the implantation procedure.

Innovation Solution

Prosthetic heart valves with radially expandable and compressible support structures featuring projections that engage native heart valve leaflets for secure positioning, and a sealing member to anchor the valve, reducing migration and paravalvular leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional surgical repair or replacement is used, then definitive treatment is achieved, but the procedure is highly invasive and prone to complications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidinvasiveness and complications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical surgical approach (open heart surgery with direct access) with a transvascular catheter-based delivery system. The prosthetic valve is delivered through the vascular system using a catheter, eliminating the need for sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass, thus reducing invasiveness while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a delivery catheter as an intermediary device to transport and deploy the prosthetic valve. The catheter serves as a mediator between the operator and the implantation site, enabling minimally invasive access to the mitral valve through peripheral vascular entry points

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If transvascular techniques are used, then invasiveness is reduced, but accurate placement becomes difficult due to distinct mitral valve anatomy

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinvasivenessVSAvoidplacement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthetic valve assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: a delivery catheter, an expandable frame, a prosthetic valve, and tissue engagement elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the engagement elements specifically designed to anchor the valve in the mitral position

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery catheter is pre-configured with positioning features and engagement elements before reaching the implantation site. The catheter system includes pre-shaped distal portions and engagement structures that are prepared in advance to facilitate accurate positioning and secure anchoring of the prosthetic valve in the mitral valve annulus

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If prosthetic valves are implanted in the mitral valve, then valve replacement is achieved, but migration and paravalvular leakage occur due to lack of anchoring structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve replacement successVSAvoidvalve positioning stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into the prosthetic valve assembly: the expandable frame provides structural support, the prosthetic valve provides flow control, and integrated tissue engagement elements provide anchoring. These combined features work together to prevent migration and paravalvular leakage while maintaining valve functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses the anchoring challenge by adding radial expansion capability to the prosthetic valve assembly. The valve transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded deployed state, utilizing radial force to engage with the mitral valve annulus and achieve stable positioning. This dimensional transition provides the necessary anchoring in the absence of traditional surgical anchoring structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 stable and secure implantation of prosthetic valves at the mitral valve, minimizing migration and leakage, and enabling minimally invasive procedures with improved procedural success and patient outcomes.

Implementation Method 1

radially expandable and compressible support structures featuring projections that engage native heart valve leaflets for secure positioning

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12599480B2Percutaneous mitral valve replacement device

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP

AI summary

A prosthetic heart valve includes an outer frame, a cover, an inner frame, and a valve structure. The outer frame includes a main body and an atrial flange. The main body includes a plurality of struts forming a plurality of circumferential rows of cells, a plurality of rows of barbs extending from junctions of the struts, the atrial flange extending radially outwardly and in an atrial direction from the inflow end of the main body. The atrial flange includes an oval shape corresponding to a shape of the patient's native mitral valve anatomy. The cover is disposed on a radially inner side of the atrial flange and on a radially outer side of the atrial flange. The inner frame is disposed within the outer frame and has a cylindrical shape. The valve structure is coupled to the inner frame and includes a plurality of leaflets.