Modular Heart Valve Prosthesis Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heart valve prostheses face challenges in achieving a smaller crossing profile for minimally invasive delivery while maintaining structural integrity, as they often buckle or deform during compression, leading to increased stress and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A modular heart valve prosthesis comprising a first device with synthetic fabric leaflets and an anchoring frame, and a second device with tissue leaflets, allowing for separate configurations and deployment to achieve a smaller profile without damaging the frame, utilizing self-expanding or balloon-expandable designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the heart valve prosthesis is compressed to obtain a smaller crossing profile for minimally invasive delivery, then the delivery feasibility is improved, but the frame may buckle, fold, or deform radially inward causing damage and compromising structural integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heart valve prosthesis into multiple modular segments or sections along the frame. Each segment can compress and expand independently, preventing buckling and deformation of the entire structure during delivery and deployment. The modular design allows controlled compression without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic frame structures with movable joints, hinges, or articulation points that allow the frame to flex and adapt during compression. These dynamic elements enable the frame to maintain its structural integrity by distributing compressive forces across multiple moving components rather than creating rigid stress concentration points.
2Reliability
If additional graft material is incorporated to aid sealing and prevent paravalvular leakage, then sealing performance is improved, but the crossing profile increases limiting the size of the prosthesis and feasibility of transcatheter delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the graft material in a nested configuration where the sealing material is positioned within or alongside the frame structure rather than as a separate external component. This nesting approach allows the graft material to provide sealing functionality while occupying minimal additional space, maintaining a small crossing profile for transcatheter delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin-film graft materials that provide effective sealing with minimal thickness. These flexible thin films can conform to the valve annulus and prevent paravalvular leakage while adding minimal bulk to the overall prosthesis structure, thereby maintaining a compact crossing profile suitable for minimally invasive delivery.
Data Source
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AI summary
A modular heart valve prosthesis includes a first heart valve device and a second heart valve device. The first heart valve device includes a first valve support including a first prosthetic valve disposed within the valve support, and an anchoring frame surrounding the first valve support and coupled to the first valve support. The first prosthetic valve includes synthetic fabric leaflets having a first thickness. The second heart valve device includes a second valve support including a second prosthetic valve disposed within the second valve support. The second prosthetic valve includes tissue leaflets having a second thickness, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness. In a first configuration, the second heart valve device is separate from the first heart valve device, and in a second configuration, the second heart valve device is disposed within the first valve support of the first heart valve device.