Self-Locking Tissue Anchor with Loop Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tissue anchors for cardiac sites lack effective mechanisms to securely anchor and move cardiac tissue walls relative to adjacent tissue, particularly in altering the geometry of cardiac valves like the tricuspid and mitral valves.
Innovation Solution
The development of tissue anchors comprising a metal wire shaped to form a straight anchor-shaft portion and a tissue-coupling portion that expands into a looped configuration upon deployment. This configuration allows for secure anchoring and movement of cardiac tissue walls by applying tension to the anchor-shaft portion, which locks the looped portion in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the tissue anchor uses a simple shaft structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to securely anchor and move cardiac tissue walls is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue anchor is divided into distinct functional segments: a shaft portion for delivery and tension application, and a tissue-coupling portion with looped configuration for anchoring. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue-coupling portion is designed to be dynamic, transitioning from a compressed linear state during delivery to an expanded looped configuration upon deployment. This dynamic transformation enables the anchor to adapt its shape for secure tissue engagement while maintaining a simple delivery profile.
2Ease of operation
If the tissue anchor uses a compressed linear configuration for delivery, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to expand and lock in place is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The looped tissue-coupling portion is nested within a delivery catheter in a compressed linear state during delivery. Once positioned, the anchor expands outward from the catheter, transforming from the nested linear configuration to the functional looped structure that provides reliable locking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor is pre-configured with the looped tissue-coupling portion designed to expand automatically upon deployment. This preliminary design ensures that the locking capability is inherent in the structure, requiring no additional locking mechanisms or complex operations to activate.
3Force
If the tissue anchor applies tension to the anchor-shaft portion, then the controlled movement of cardiac tissue walls is achieved, but the force required may exceed tissue tolerance
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the tension application function (shaft portion) from the anchoring function (tissue-coupling portion), the design allows tension to be applied through the shaft while the looped portion distributes the anchoring force across multiple contact points with the tissue, reducing localized stress and potential damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The looped configuration provides dynamic adaptability to tissue contours, allowing the anchor to conform to the tissue surface and distribute forces more evenly. This reduces peak stresses on the tissue while maintaining effective tension transmission for controlled movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue anchor is provided that includes a metal wire shaped so as to define a straight anchor-shaft portion and a tissue-coupling portion extending therefrom. The tissue anchor is configured such that when the tissue-coupling portion is in an unconstrained state: (a) the tissue-coupling portion crosses itself at first and second loop-end longitudinal portions along the wire, so as to define a looped portion, which generally defines a looped-portion plane, (b) the first loop-end longitudinal portion is closer to a first proximal wire end along the wire than the second loop-end longitudinal portion is to the first proximal wire end along the wire, and (c) a greatest absolute distance between the first loop-end longitudinal portion and the first proximal wire end is greater than a greatest absolute distance between the second loop-end longitudinal portion and the first proximal wire end. Other embodiments are also described.