Occluder Locking Mechanisms for Cardiac Tissue Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices used to occlude undesired blood flow often experience bulging when deployed, which can lead to tissue erosion and compromised occlusion effectiveness due to their stiffness, and existing locking mechanisms may not adequately address these issues.
Innovation Solution
The integration of active and passive locking mechanisms that couple distal and proximal disc portions of medical devices, allowing for minimized bulging and increased compliance with cardiac tissue, including designs with internally threaded end screws, wire loops, and criss-cross spring configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a softer frame/braid material is used to increase device compliance, then tissue erosion risk is minimized, but the device experiences greater bulging due to anatomy effects and insufficient clamping force
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is activated after device deployment to pull the disc portions together and minimize bulging, allowing the device to first conform to the anatomy with minimal tissue stress, then lock into position to prevent excessive deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a softer, more compliant state during delivery and initial deployment to a locked state where the locking mechanism engages to provide additional structural support and reduce bulging while maintaining tissue compliance
2Strength
If a stiffer Nitinol device is used to provide sufficient clamping force, then anchoring strength is improved, but radial disc force increases causing tissue erosion
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into functional segments: a softer frame/braid for compliance, disc portions for occlusion, and a locking mechanism for structural support, allowing each component to optimize its properties without compromising the whole
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines softer frame/braid material with Nitinol locking mechanism components, creating a composite structure that provides both compliance and sufficient clamping force without excessive radial disc force on the tissue
3Force
If the device is overs sized to compensate for softer material, then clamping force is sufficient, but disc bulging increases due to increased compression
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is activated after deployment to pull the disc portions together, preventing bulging that would occur from oversizing the device to achieve sufficient clamping force with softer materials
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 locking mechanisms effectively reduce radial disc forces, enhance disc deformation and conformability, and improve occlusive effectiveness while minimizing tissue damage, allowing for more consistent and improved patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one coupling element is a spring that internally extends from the distal disc portion to the proximal disc portion in a criss-cross pattern such that the distal disc portion and the proximal disc portion are configured to pull toward each other when the medical device is in the expanded configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device including a locking mechanism and a method including activating the locking mechanism are described herein. The medical device includes distal and proximal disc portions and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is configured to pull and maintain the distal and proximal disc portions toward each other when the medical device is deployed in an expanded configuration.