Spring-Loaded Occlusion Clamp for Left Atrial Appendage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current occlusion clips for the left atrial appendage are invasive and require complex procedures, as they need to be inserted between completely bounded perimeter, which complicates the occlusion process and may not effectively prevent thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation, leading to inadequate stroke prevention.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive occlusion clamp design featuring tongs with integrated primary and secondary springs, allowing for side placement and secure occlusion of the left atrial appendage without requiring insertion between a completely bounded perimeter, utilizing a secondary spring to compress the tongs and exert a bias force for effective tissue occlusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a permanent clip is used to occlude the LAA, then stroke prevention is improved, but the procedure becomes more invasive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The occlusion device is divided into two functional components: a positioning element (stylet with curved tip) that guides the device to the LAA, and a separate occlusion element (clip with spring arms) that performs the actual closure. This segmentation allows the positioning function to be minimally invasive while the occlusion function provides reliable stroke prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
A stylet acts as an intermediary tool that is inserted through the vein to guide and position the occlusion clip at the LAA base. The stylet's curved tip navigates the anatomical path to the LAA, serving as a mediator between the external application point and the internal occlusion site, reducing the invasiveness of the overall procedure.
2Reliability
If a closed-ended clip is used to occlude the LAA, then occlusion effectiveness is improved, but the application procedure becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of feeding the LAA tissue through a closed-ended clip from one end, the device is designed with open ends that allow the LAA to be accessed from the side. The spring arms open to receive the tissue and then close around it, inverting the traditional application sequence and making the procedure simpler while maintaining effective occlusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip incorporates spring arms that are dynamically flexible during application. The arms can open to accommodate the LAA tissue and then automatically close to secure occlusion. This dynamic behavior simplifies the application process compared to rigid closed-ended clips, while the final closed state ensures effective occlusion.
3Ease of operation
If pharmacological therapy is used for stroke prevention, then patient compliance is improved, but side effects and inadequacy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pharmacological system (oral medications requiring patient compliance) with a mechanical occlusion system (permanent clip). This substitution eliminates the need for ongoing patient medication adherence while avoiding the side effects of anticoagulants, providing a one-time procedural solution with long-term stroke prevention.
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 design enables a more straightforward and minimally invasive occlusion of the left atrial appendage, potentially reducing the risk of thrombus formation and improving stroke prevention by providing a secure and efficient method for occluding the appendage, thus addressing the limitations of existing clips.
Implementation Method 1
a primary spring coupling a first longitudinal arm to a second longitudinal arm
Implementation Method 2
a secondary spring removably coupled to the occlusion tongs
Data Source
AI summary
A method of using an occlusion clamp, the method comprising: (a) repositioning a tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs, the tongs comprising a first longitudinal segment operatively coupled proximally to a second longitudinal segment, the tongs including a first spring exerting a proximal bias tending to direct a proximal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where each of the first and second longitudinal segments includes a distal free end; (b) repositioning a second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments to exert a bias tending to direct a distal portion of each of the first and second longitudinal segments toward one another, where repositioning of the tongs so that tissue interposes the tongs precedes repositioning the second spring distally along each of the first and second longitudinal segments.