Prosthetic Heart Valve Storage Jar With Partial-Compression Securement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage jar assemblies for prosthetic heart valves are prone to damage during shipping and storage due to loose placement, require complex assembly processes with sutures, and are not adaptable for different valve sizes.
Innovation Solution
A storage jar assembly with a lid featuring valve attachment features and a securement mechanism that holds the prosthetic heart valve in a partially compressed state, using notches or a valve holder to securely attach to the valve's outer posts, allowing easy removal without special tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the prosthetic heart valve is placed loose in the jar, then the assembly process is simple, but the valve is exposed to potential damage during storage, shipping and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The lid includes valve attachment features (notches, recesses, or clips) that are pre-configured to engage with corresponding features on the prosthetic heart valve frame. This preliminary arrangement allows the valve to be securely held in a compressed state during storage and shipping, protecting it from damage while maintaining a relatively simple assembly process where the valve is simply placed into the jar and the lid is closed.
2Reliability
If a valve holding mechanism with sutures is used, then the valve is securely held, but the assembly process complexity and length increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex suture-based holding mechanism and replaces it with integrated attachment features directly formed on the lid structure. The notches, recesses, or clips are molded or formed as part of the lid itself, eliminating the need for separate sutures and complex assembly steps while maintaining secure holding of the valve in a compressed state.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment features are designed as integral, non-reusable components of the disposable jar assembly. The notches, recesses, or clips are formed directly in the lid and are intended for single-use during storage and shipping, after which the entire jar assembly is discarded. This eliminates the need for expensive, reusable suture materials and complex holding mechanisms.
3Reliability
If a storage jar assembly is designed for a specific valve size, then the valve is securely held, but it is not suitable for use with valves of different sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed with attachment features (notches, recesses, or clips) that can accommodate valves of different sizes. The features are dimensioned and positioned to provide secure engagement with the frame of various valve sizes, allowing a single jar assembly design to serve multiple valve sizes while maintaining reliable holding and compression.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage jar assembly for use with a prosthetic heart valve is disclosed in several embodiments. As one example, a storage jar assembly can include a jar having an open end and configured to receive a prosthetic heart valve. The storage jay assembly also includes a lid configured to cover the open end of the jar. The storage jar assembly can include a valve holder having a base, a column connected to and extending axially away from the base, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced valve retention members mounted on the base. The valve holder can be configured to hold the prosthetic heart valve in a partially compressed state within the jar.