Shape Memory Foam Implants for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices for occluding the left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation are inadequate in effectively preventing thrombi formation and migration, leading to stroke or heart attack risks.
Innovation Solution
A shape memory foam component is designed with a compressed configuration for delivery and an expanded configuration for occlusion, adapted to fit various left atrial appendage profiles, transitioning upon exposure to increased temperature and moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shape memory foam component is used to occlude the left atrial appendage, then the occlusion effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the shape transformation mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory foam component changes its physical state from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration by responding to temperature and moisture parameters in the body environment. This parameter change enables the foam to transform from a deliverable state to an occlusive state, improving occlusion effectiveness while maintaining relatively simple device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The shape memory foam undergoes a phase transition between compressed and expanded configurations in response to environmental conditions. This phase transition allows the single component to achieve both deliverability and occlusion functionality, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If the shape memory foam is crimped into an inverse shape, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to the additional crimping process
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory foam is pre-formed into an inverse shape that corresponds to the desired final occlusion configuration. This preliminary action of crimping the foam into the inverse shape allows the component to automatically transform into the correct shape when exposed to body temperature and moisture, improving manufacturing precision while the automation of the shape transformation offsets the additional manufacturing step
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 shape memory foam effectively occludes the left atrial appendage, reducing thrombi formation and migration, thereby minimizing stroke and heart attack risks.
Implementation Method 1
The shape memory foam component is adapted to change from the first shape to the second shape when exposed to increased temperature and/or increased moisture
Data Source
AI summary
An occlusive device may include a shape memory foam component having a compressed configuration in which the shape memory foam component has a first shape and an expanded configuration in which the shape memory foam component has a second shape that is different from the first shape. The occlusive device may be adapted to occlude a left atrial appendage (LAA), for example. The shape memory foam component may be formed by crimping a shape memory foam blank into an inverse shape that is an inverse of the second shape and subsequently cutting the shape memory foam component from the crimped shape memory foam blank, the shape memory foam component having the first shape.