Suture Catheter Tensioner With Nested Spring Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transcatheter delivery devices for prosthetic mitral and tricuspid valves are larger in size due to the larger diameter of these valves, and there is a need for precise control of the catheter tip to ensure reliable and fast positioning of medical devices within the heart, particularly for heart valve replacement or repair procedures.
Innovation Solution
A delivery system with a handle assembly and catheter assembly, incorporating a suture catheter and suture rigging assembly, where a spring exerts a load to maintain tension on suture tethers, allowing for precise control and deployment of prosthetic heart valves through a suture catheter tensioner mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring mechanism is added to maintain tension on suture tethers, then control precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is nested within the control mechanism housing, with the translating bore nut moving along the spring's axis. The spring bar with legs provides a compact framework that contains the spring while maintaining structural integrity. This nesting approach allows the tension-maintaining mechanism to be integrated into the existing catheter delivery system without significantly increasing overall device size or complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The translating bore nut acts as an intermediary component between the spring force and the suture catheter. It converts the spring's axial force into controlled translation that maintains tension on the suture tethers while allowing precise positioning. This intermediary mechanism enables reliable tension maintenance without requiring direct spring-catheter connection, thus managing complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the delivery device is designed for precise catheter tip control, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the spring for tension maintenance, the translating bore nut for positional control, the spring bar for structural support, and sealing components for fluid isolation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a compact overall design that can be delivered through catheters of appropriate size.
Solution Approach 2:
The translating bore nut moves axially along the spring's length, utilizing the longitudinal dimension for control adjustments. The spring bar with its legs provides radial support while allowing axial translation. This dimensional arrangement enables precise control functionality without requiring increased device diameter, maintaining compatibility with standard catheter delivery systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables precise control and deployment of prosthetic heart valves, reducing the risk of premature deployment and ensuring accurate positioning, even in complex vascular pathways, while maintaining tension on the suture tethers for reliable delivery.
Implementation Method 1
the spring exerts a load to proximally bias the suture catheter relative to the control mechanism to maintain tension on the plurality of suture tethers
Data Source
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AI summary
A system, having a delivery assembly having a handle assembly and a catheter assembly, the handle assembly having a control mechanism configured to control a suture catheter of the catheter assembly, the control mechanism having a puck configured to translate axially relative to the handle assembly in order to correspondingly axially translate the suture catheter, the control mechanism having a spring configured to exert at least a minimum load to proximally bias the suture catheter; and a prosthetic heart valve having a plurality of pins configured to engage with one or more tethers indirectly coupled to the suture catheter.