Scalloped Prosthetic Valve Frame for Stress-Reduced Leaflet Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing prosthetic heart valves face challenges in being delivered minimally invasively due to their size and require secure attachment methods that minimize stress and abrasion on flexible leaflets, which can lead to early failure.
Innovation Solution
A two-part foldable frame with scalloped portions supports flexible leaflets, secured by a cloth wrap around the frame's arc sections, eliminating direct suturing and reducing stress on the leaflets, allowing for even expansion and contraction without needle holes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suturing methods are used to attach leaflets to the frame, then the leaflets can be securely attached, but the leaflets experience stress and abrasion that can lead to early failure
Solution Approach 1:
A cloth wrap is introduced as an intermediary element between the leaflets and the frame. The cloth wrap is wrapped around the arc sections of the frame and secures the leaflets without requiring direct suturing to the frame, thereby reducing stress and abrasion on the leaflets while maintaining secure attachment
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful suturing process is extracted and replaced. Instead of suturing leaflets directly to the frame (which causes stress and abrasion), the invention uses a cloth wrap system that eliminates needles and sutures from the attachment process, removing the source of damage to the leaflets
2Length of moving object
If the valve is compressed to a reduced diameter for delivery, then it can be delivered through less invasive penetration, but the attachment method must accommodate the compression and expansion cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment method is designed to be dynamic, accommodating the compression and expansion of the valve during delivery and deployment. The cloth wrap and scalloped frame sections are configured to allow the valve to be compressed to a reduced diameter for delivery and then expanded at the target location while maintaining leaflet attachment
3Stability of the object's composition
If the frame is designed with scalloped portions to support leaflets, then the leaflets are evenly supported during expansion, but the frame geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is designed with scalloped portions at specific locations where leaflet attachment is needed. This local modification provides enhanced support and attachment surfaces exactly where required, rather than making the entire frame complex. The scalloped portions create arc sections that naturally support the leaflets during expansion and contraction
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable prosthetic valve including a radially collapsible and expandable frame and a leaflet structure positioned within the frame. The frame includes three arc-shaped portions and a plurality of angled struts forming a lowermost row of closed cells defining an inflow end of the frame. The leaflet structure comprises a plurality of leaflets each having a lower edge portion coupled to the frame along a leaflet attachment path that extends along one of the arc-shaped portions. Commissures formed between adjacent leaflets are coupled to commissure support portions of the frame that are positioned downstream of the arc-shaped portions along an outflow end portion of the frame.