Neo-leaflet Coaptation Surface for Mitral Valve Regurgitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Valvular regurgitation, where heart valves do not close properly, leading to backward blood flow and reduced efficiency, affects millions and existing treatments are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
A coaptation-assist device with a loop-shaped ventricular anchor and a neo-leaflet is implanted to support and replace the native leaflet, providing a surface for coaptation and improving valve closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coaptation-assist device with neo-leaflet is implanted to replace the native leaflet, then valve closure function is improved and regurgitation is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The neo-leaflet acts as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the ventricular anchor and the native leaflet, providing a new coaptation surface that facilitates proper valve closure without requiring replacement of the entire valve structure
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the ventricular anchor for secure positioning, the neo-leaflet for providing coaptation surface, and the connection elements, allowing each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall functionality
2Stability of the object's composition
If the loop-shaped ventricular anchor extends between the ventricular apical area and the native leaflet, then anchoring stability is improved, but the device requires precise positioning which increases operational difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The loop-shaped anchor utilizes three-dimensional spatial configuration, extending from the ventricular apical area through the native leaflet to create stable anchoring in multiple dimensions, which provides inherent self-alignment and reduces the precision requirements for initial positioning
3Reliability
If the neo-leaflet provides a surface of coaptation for opposing native leaflets, then regurgitation is reduced, but the device complexity and surgical procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The neo-leaflet is designed as a simplified copy or surrogate of the native leaflet's coaptation surface, replicating the essential functional geometry needed for proper valve closure without the complexity of the complete native leaflet structure
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D~1E
AI summary
A coaptation-assist device (20, 120A, 120B, 120C, 320A, 320B, 420, 720) is provided for treating a native atrioventricular valve, including a loop-shaped ventricular anchor (30, 130, 330, 430, 730) which includes an anchor-loop wire loop (50, 150, 350, 450, 750), which defines at least a portion of a border of the loop- shaped ventricular anchor, and is configured to be positioned in a ventricle, extending between a ventricular apical area and a subannular surface of a target native leaflet, and to remain anchored in position against surrounding anatomy, including the subannular surface, a ventricular wall, and the ventricular apical area. A neo -leaflet (32, 132A, 132B, 132C, 332A, 332B, 332A, 332B, 432, 732) is supported by the loop-shaped ventricular anchor and is configured to at least partially replace function of the target native leaflet by providing a surface of coaptation (34, 434, 734) for one or more opposing native leaflets that oppose the target native leaflet. Other embodiments are also described.