Mitral Valve Clamping Bands for Percutaneous Leaflet Repair

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional open heart procedures for repairing or replacing the mitral valve pose significant risks and recovery challenges, making them unsuitable for certain patients, including the elderly and those with other health issues.

Innovation Solution

A percutaneous apparatus and method using an atrial band and a ventricular band, secured by guide wires and locking mechanisms, to clamp and replace the mitral valve without invasive surgery, utilizing transcatheter techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional open heart procedures are used to repair or replace the mitral valve, then reliable valve repair or replacement can be achieved, but patient morbidity and mortality risks increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve repair reliabilityVSAvoidpatient morbidity and mortality risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical open-heart surgical system with a transcatheter-based system that delivers a self-expanding or balloon-expandable valve prosthesis through the bloodstream. The new valve is deployed via catheter insertion through a peripheral artery, eliminating the need for sternotomy, heart-lung bypass, and direct surgical manipulation of the heart, thereby substituting a high-risk mechanical surgical system with a lower-risk interventional system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a catheter as an intermediary device that delivers the valve prosthesis through the bloodstream to the mitral valve position. This intermediary allows the valve to be implanted without direct surgical access to the heart, using the blood vessels as a natural pathway, thereby reducing patient trauma and surgical risks while maintaining valve replacement functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional open heart procedures are used for mitral valve repair, then complete valve repair can be achieved, but post-operative convalescence period extends to several months

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve repair completenessVSAvoidpost-operative convalescence period

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the traumatic open-heart surgical approach with a minimally invasive transcatheter approach, replacing the need for sternotomy and prolonged surgical recovery with a percutaneous procedure that allows patients to recover much faster, reducing convalescence from several months to weeks or days

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The valve prosthesis is designed with flexible membrane structures and thin-walled components that allow for compression into a catheter for delivery, then expansion at the implantation site. This flexible design enables minimally invasive delivery while maintaining structural integrity and valve function, contributing to reduced recovery time compared to rigid surgical implants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If open heart surgery is performed on elderly patients or those with health issues, then mitral valve repair may be possible, but prohibitive surgical risks are posed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve repair feasibilityVSAvoidsurgical risks for high-risk patients

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces high-risk open-heart surgery with a low-risk transcatheter procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia or mild sedation rather than general anesthesia. The procedure avoids sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and direct cardiac manipulation, making it suitable for elderly patients and those with comorbidities who would be prohibitive candidates for traditional surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the valve replacement function from the context of open-heart surgery and delivers it through a peripheral artery using a catheter-based system. This extraction allows the procedure to be performed in patients who cannot tolerate the physiological stress of open-heart surgery, effectively removing the barrier of surgical risk for high-risk populations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12569342B2Apparatus and methods for clamping a mitral valve

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 VESALIUS CARDIOVASCULAR INC

AI summary

An apparatus for repairing or replacing a mitral valve and a method of using same are disclosed. The apparatus has an atrial band securable to a ring-shaped ventricular band. The ventricular band has an anterior band and a posterior band connectable to the anterior band. The atrial and anterior bands each have a pair of apertures. Each of the apertures is positioned proximate to a respective terminal end of the bands. The apertures of the atrial and anterior bands are arranged to align with one another when their inner surfaces engage. Means are provided to secure the atrial band to the anterior band. When delivered and implanted, the apparatus is arranged to extend across the commissures of the heart, with atrial and anterior bands arranged to press against the atrial and ventricular surfaces of the mitral valve leaflets respectively.