Segmented Reinforced Valvuloplasty Balloon for Low-Profile Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valvuloplasty balloons are insufficient for treating severely diseased heart valves and often have a profile that hinders their passage through narrow pathways, necessitating improved designs that control folding mechanics and facilitate the attachment of cutting members.
Innovation Solution
The development of valvuloplasty balloons with reinforced segments and braided filaments, featuring discrete regions devoid of filaments for controlled expansion and deflation, along with integrated cutting members for tissue preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the balloon is made with continuous filaments for structural strength, then the balloon wall flexibility is reduced, but the balloon can maintain its shape during expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is divided into reinforced regions with filaments and non-reinforced regions without filaments. This segmentation allows different portions of the balloon to have different mechanical properties - the reinforced regions provide structural strength while the non-reinforced regions maintain flexibility and conformability to the valve geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the balloon wall are assigned different qualities - some regions contain filaments for strength and shape maintenance, while other regions are filament-free for flexibility and conformability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing both strength and flexibility where needed.
2Length of moving object
If the balloon profile is reduced for easier navigation through narrow pathways, then the balloon size is decreased, but the expansion force is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is segmented into reinforced and non-reinforced regions, allowing it to maintain a compact profile for navigation while the reinforced regions provide the necessary expansion force when deployed. The filaments in specific regions enable force concentration where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon combines different materials - regions with filaments (composite structure) and regions without filaments (homogeneous material). This composite construction allows the balloon to achieve both small profile for navigation and sufficient expansion force through the strategic placement of reinforcing elements.
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 reinforced design allows for effective expansion and deflation control, enabling easier navigation through narrow pathways and efficient tissue scoring for heart valve treatment.
Implementation Method 1
the balloon wall extending between the first and second reinforced regions includes a first elasticity and wherein the first and the second reinforced regions include a second elasticity less than the first elasticity
Data Source
AI summary
Example medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device includes an elongate shaft having a distal end region and a balloon coupled to the distal end region, the balloon including a wall, a distal waist, a proximal waist and body portion positioned between the distal waist and the proximal waist. The medical device also includes a first reinforced region positioned along the body portion, the first reinforced region including a first plurality of filaments and a second reinforced region positioned along the body portion, the second reinforced region including a second plurality of filaments. Further, the first reinforced region is circumferentially spaced from the second reinforced region such that the balloon wall extending between the first and the second reinforced regions is devoid of a filament.