Collapsible Shape Memory Frame for Cardiac Cell Construct Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating chronic heart failure are invasive, making them unsuitable for elderly patients and resulting in prolonged recovery times, high hospital costs, and increased risk of infection, as they lack an effective minimally invasive approach for inserting and retaining contractile cell constructs around the heart.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive device comprising a collapsible support frame made of shape memory metal or wires with tines, designed to expand around the heart, allowing for the delivery and retention of contractile cell constructs, facilitating percutaneous insertion and secure attachment to cardiac tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If open surgical procedures are used to implant contractile cell constructs, then the constructs can be securely attached to the heart, but the procedure becomes highly invasive with prolonged recovery time and increased infection risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure attachment of constructVSAvoidinvasiveness, infection risk, recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible, biocompatible frame structure that can be collapsed into a compact form for percutaneous insertion and then expanded within the heart to provide secure attachment of the contractile cell construct. This flexible framework allows minimally invasive delivery while maintaining structural integrity for reliable construct retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The device utilizes a nested delivery system where the collapsible frame and contractile cell construct are contained within a delivery catheter. The frame collapses inside the catheter for insertion through a small incision, then expands outside the catheter to its functional configuration, enabling minimally invasive implantation while securing the construct to the heart.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a large frame is used to surround the heart for construct retention, then the construct can be securely held, but the device cannot be inserted minimally invasively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstruct retentionVSAvoidminimally invasive insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is designed with dynamic characteristics, transitioning from a collapsed low-profile state during insertion to an expanded stable state during operation. This dynamic transformation allows the frame to pass through small incisions in a compact form and then expand to provide adequate support and retention for the contractile cell construct on the heart surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The frame is divided into multiple segments or struts that can be collapsed together for insertion and then separated or deployed to form the expanded configuration. This segmentation enables the large frame to be delivered through a small incision while maintaining the structural integrity needed for construct retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional surgical methods are used, then complete control over construct placement is achieved, but hospital stay and recovery time are greatly extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstruct placement controlVSAvoidhospital stay, recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional open surgical mechanical approach with a catheter-based delivery system that uses controlled expansion and anchoring mechanisms. This substitution allows precise construct placement to be achieved through minimally invasive percutaneous access, dramatically reducing surgical trauma, hospital stay, and recovery time while maintaining placement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This approach reduces hospital stay and recovery time, makes treatment more accessible to elderly patients, and decreases the risk of infection by providing a less invasive method for delivering and retaining contractile cells around the heart, enhancing the effectiveness of cell-based therapy for chronic heart failure.

Implementation Method 1

A minimally invasive device comprising a collapsible support frame made of shape memory metal or wires with tines, designed to expand around the heart

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory effect: Shape Memory Alloy

Data Source

PatentUS11382752B2Minnimally invasive device for treating chronic heart failure

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 REX MEDICAL LP

AI summary

A device for treating chronic heart failure made of a construct composed of cardiac tissue and a frame supporting the construct. The frame has a plurality of elongated members and the cardiac tissue is attached to the elongated members. The elongated members extend outwardly from a converging region and diverge to provide a distal opening and a space proximal of the distal opening between the elongated members, the space dimensioned to fit over a heart of the patient to treat chronic heart failure.