Mitral Valve Tissue Plication Anchor Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mitral regurgitation, characterized by the backflow of blood due to incomplete closure of the mitral valve, poses significant risks for patients undergoing surgical correction, necessitating a less invasive solution.

Innovation Solution

Deployment of tissue fixation devices, or anchors, within the mitral valve annulus to reduce annular circumference and modify the valve's geometry, facilitating leaflet coaptation without the need for open heart surgery, using a combination of semi-rigid bars, fabric ribbons, and sutures to tension and secure the anchors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional surgical correction is performed to fix mitral regurgitation, then valve function is restored, but patient risk increases due to open heart surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve function restorationVSAvoidsurgical risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces open heart surgery with a percutaneous delivery system that uses a catheter to transport the plication device through the blood vessels to the mitral valve annulus, eliminating the need for thoracic surgery while achieving the same functional outcome

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a delivery catheter as an intermediary tool to transport the plication device from the percutaneous access site to the target location at the mitral valve annulus, enabling minimally invasive placement without direct surgical exposure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If percutaneous delivery is used to avoid open heart surgery, then surgical risk is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical riskVSAvoiddelivery system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the device into separate functional components: a plication element for valve modification, a delivery catheter for transport, and a retrieval mechanism for removal, allowing each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a self-expanding plication element that transitions from a compressed delivery state within the catheter to an expanded functional state at the valve annulus, enabling simple delivery while achieving complex valve modification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If anchor tensioning is applied to reduce annular circumference, then leaflet coaptation is improved, but tissue damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveleaflet coaptationVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a self-expanding plication element that changes its physical state from compressed during delivery to expanded during deployment, allowing controlled tissue engagement and coaptation while minimizing damage through gradual expansion rather than forceful insertion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a flexible plication element that can conform to the valve annulus geometry while maintaining sufficient rigidity to achieve coaptation, balancing tissue compression with tissue preservation through flexible yet controlled structural design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS8945211B2Tissue plication device and method for its use

Publication Date: 2015.02.03 EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP

AI summary

A device for treating mitral regurgitation including an anchor which features one or more reinforcing bars, ribbon and suture.