Mitral Valve Prosthesis Anchoring for Secure Transcatheter Implantation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transcatheter mitral valve replacement techniques face high procedural failures and recurrent mitral regurgitation due to the complex anatomy of the mitral valve annulus prolapse, the technical solution involves a minimally invasive surgical technique for mitral valve replacement using a mitral valve prosthesis with an anchoring element and a valve component that can be flexibly connected, allowing for independent expansion and positioning to conform to the unique anatomical structure of the mitral valve, thereby reducing regurgitation and providing a secure seal.

Innovation Solution

The mitral valve prosthesis includes an anchoring element with flexible supports and a valve component that can be delivered in a compact configuration, allowing for independent expansion and positioning within the mitral annulus, with a coupler component to facilitate alignment and minimize regurgitation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional open heart surgical replacement is used, then valve replacement can be achieved, but the procedure requires surgical opening of the thorax, extra-corporeal circulation, and has significantly higher morbidity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve replacement successVSAvoidsurgical morbidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical open-heart surgery system with a percutaneous transcatheter delivery system. The valve prosthesis is delivered through a catheter via the femoral artery, eliminating the need for surgical thoracic opening and extra-corporeal circulation, thereby reducing surgical morbidity while maintaining valve replacement effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a delivery catheter as an intermediary device to transport the valve prosthesis from the peripheral vasculature to the mitral valve position. This intermediary delivery mechanism enables minimally invasive access, avoiding direct surgical intervention while ensuring reliable valve placement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If percutaneous transcatheter techniques are used, then surgical morbidity is reduced, but procedural failures and recurrent mitral regurgitation occur due to complex mitral valve annulus anatomy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical morbidityVSAvoidprocedural success

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring element is designed with flexible, expandable structures that can dynamically adapt to the complex geometry of the mitral valve annulus. The element expands from a compressed delivery state to a fully deployed anchoring state, conforming to the unique anatomical contours to ensure secure fixation and prevent regurgitation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The anchoring element features differentiated engagement structures with varying degrees of flexibility and expansion capability at different locations. This local variation allows the element to conform precisely to the complex annular geometry, providing secure anchoring at each specific anatomical region while maintaining overall procedural reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the anchoring element is rigid, then structural strength is maintained, but the element cannot conform to the unique anatomical structure of the mitral valve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidanatomical conformity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring element is divided into multiple flexible segments or struts that can independently expand and conform to the annular geometry. This segmentation allows the element to maintain overall structural strength while enabling local adaptation to the unique anatomical contours of the mitral valve

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The anchoring element utilizes shape memory materials or expandable structures that change their physical parameters (rigidity, expansion ratio) based on the delivery state versus deployed state. In the compressed state, the element is flexible for catheter delivery; upon deployment, it expands to a rigid configuration that conforms to the annular anatomy, providing both strength and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12533230B2Mitral valve prosthesis implantation

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 MICOR LTD

AI summary

A heart valve prosthesis and methods of its implantation are described herein. The prosthesis can be implanted in a heart of a patient by positioning an upper support of an anchoring element into a left atrium of the patient. The upper support can expand adjacent to a native valve structure of the patient. Further, the upper support can be moved against the native valve structure in a direction toward a left ventricle of the patient. A lower support of the anchoring element can be positioned into the left ventricle, spaced apart from the upper support, the lower support being separate from the upper support and coupled to the upper support by a flexible connector. Finally, the lower support can expand within the left ventricle, and engagement members of the lower support can engage with tissue of the native valve structure.