Crimping Accessory for Prosthetic Valve Anchor Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crimping apparatuses for prosthetic valves and stents with protruding anchors face challenges in minimizing mechanical stress on these anchors during the crimping process, as they are often subjected to crimping forces intended for the main body, leading to potential deformation and inefficiency in reducing larger diameter prosthetic valves to smaller sizes.
Innovation Solution
A crimping apparatus featuring a housing with circumferentially arranged, nesting jaws that radially compress the annular body of the prosthetic valve or stent while using recessed portions and slidable shielding members to isolate and protect the protruding anchors from crimping forces, allowing for precise control of the crimping aperture and minimizing anchor stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional crimping apparatus applies radial compression forces to reduce the diameter of a prosthetic valve, then the main body of the valve is effectively crimped, but the protruding anchors are subjected to undue mechanical stress and potential deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The crimping apparatus divides the interaction surface into two distinct types: smooth surfaces that contact only the main body of the prosthetic valve, and recessed portions with crimping surfaces that engage only the anchors. This segmentation allows differential treatment - the main body receives uniform radial compression while the anchors are isolated in protected recesses, preventing deformation during the crimping process
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed portions act as intermediary structures that capture and isolate the anchors during crimping. These recesses with specialized crimping surfaces serve as a mediator between the anchors and the external environment, allowing the anchors to be held securely without exposing them to the harmful radial compression forces applied to the main valve body
2Productivity
If the prosthetic valve is crimped from a large diameter to a smaller diameter, then the valve can be loaded onto the delivery device, but the anchors may deform under the crimping forces
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus segments the crimping interface into protected recessed portions for anchor engagement and exposed smooth surfaces for main body compression. This enables simultaneous crimping of the valve body while maintaining anchor protection, achieving both high crimping efficiency and anchor integrity without requiring separate operations
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the crimping apparatus are given different surface qualities: smooth surfaces in areas contacting the main body to allow uniform compression, and recessed portions with specialized crimping surfaces in areas contacting the anchors. This local differentiation ensures that each region provides the appropriate interaction for its intended function, maintaining reliability while preserving productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic valve assembly includes an annular frame having an inner radial surface, an outer radial surface, and defining an inner lumen. The prosthetic valve assembly further includes a leaflet assembly including at least one leaflet having an inner radial surface and an outer radial surface. The at least one leaflet is disposed at least partially within the inner lumen of the annular frame. The prosthetic valve assembly includes a crimping accessory device having a handle and at least one shielding member removably disposed between the outer radial surface of the at least one leaflet and the inner radial surface of the annular frame. The at least one shielding member is configured to reduce physical contact between the at least one leaflet and the inner radial surface of the annular frame.