Papillary Muscle Position Control via Adjustable Anchors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heart valve repair techniques often require extensive surgery, do not utilize papillary muscles to control valve geometry, and cannot make fine-tuning adjustments on a beating heart to effectively reduce or eliminate blood regurgitation in atrioventricular valves.
Innovation Solution
Devices comprising anchors, support structures, and adjustment mechanisms that allow for the positioning and adjustment of papillary muscles relative to the annulus of an atrioventricular valve, enabling reshaping of the valve geometry and reduction of blood regurgitation, either with or without an annuloplasty device, and can be adjusted on a beating heart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional heart valve repair techniques are used, then surgery can be performed, but extensive surgical intervention is required and papillary muscles cannot be utilized to control valve geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces support structures as intermediary elements that connect anchors on the annulus to anchors on the papillary muscles. These support structures enable the transmission of forces and geometric control from the annulus to the papillary muscles, allowing versatile valve geometry control through a manageable device architecture rather than direct complex surgical manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into multiple independent components: annular anchors, papillary muscle anchors, support structures, and adjustment mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while contributing to the overall valve geometry control, reducing surgical complexity compared to a monolithic surgical approach
2Reliability
If conventional valve repair is performed, then regurgitation may be reduced temporarily, but fine-tuning adjustments cannot be made on a beating heart and regurgitation typically degrades over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms including threaded rods with nuts, cables with tensioning devices, or shape memory alloy elements that allow the support structures to be adjusted in length or tension. These mechanisms enable fine-tuning of papillary muscle position and valve geometry on a beating heart, and allow for long-term adaptation as tissues heal and change, preventing regurgitation degradation over time
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanisms are designed to be self-contained and self-adjustable within the physiological environment. The device can be adjusted through the atrium or accessible surgical approaches without requiring heart stopping, and the adjustment mechanisms maintain their function autonomously within the heart, providing reliable long-term performance
3Manufacturing precision
If papillary muscles are repositioned to control valve geometry, then blood regurgitation can be reduced, but the device must be adjustable to achieve precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs adjustment mechanisms that change the length or tension parameter of the support structures. Threaded rods allow precise length adjustment through rotation, cables allow tension adjustment through friction or locking mechanisms, and shape memory alloys allow length adjustment through temperature or electrical field changes. These parameter changes enable precise papillary muscle positioning while keeping the adjustment mechanisms relatively simple
Data Source
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AI summary
Papillary muscle position control devices (900) systems and methods are provided. According to an exemplary embodiment, a papillary muscle position control device generally comprises a first anchor (905), a second anchor (920), and a support structure (915). The first anchor can be configured to fixedly connect to an in situ valve of a heart ventricle. The second anchor can be configured to fixedly connect to a muscle wall of the valve. The support structure can be configured to have an adjustable length and be coupled to the first anchor and second anchor such that adjusting the length of the support structure varies a distance between the first anchor and the second anchor. Other embodiments are also claimed and described.