Tissue Anchors With Everted Tips For Secure Medical Device Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices face challenges in maintaining proper positioning within the anatomy due to lack of effective anchoring solutions that minimize tissue damage and promote secure engagement.

Innovation Solution

The development of anchors with controlled depth penetration and everted tips that encourage tissue growth, integrated with a delivery system allowing for precise deployment and integration with medical devices, utilizing biocompatible materials like Nitinol and porous biomaterials to enhance tissue integration and reduce damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anchors penetrate tissue to secure medical devices, then secure anchoring is achieved, but tissue damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure anchoringVSAvoidtissue damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the anchor, specifically creating controlled penetration depth and everted tips that curve back into the tissue. This parameter modification allows the anchor to secure the medical device while minimizing the extent of tissue damage by limiting penetration to controlled depths and redirecting tip forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor is segmented into distinct functional zones: a penetration section for initial tissue entry, a body section for structural support, and everted tip sections for securing. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally - penetrating efficiently while the everted tips provide secure retention with minimized tissue disruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If anchors are integrated with delivery systems for precise deployment, then deployment precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery system and anchor are merged into an integrated assembly where the anchor is pre-loaded within the delivery catheter. The delivery system incorporates features such as push rods or balloons that are combined with the anchor structure, allowing precise deployment through a single integrated device rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor design incorporates self-deployment features where the anchor automatically transitions from a compressed delivery state to an expanded deployed state upon exiting the delivery catheter. The elastic memory of the anchor material provides self-service deployment without requiring complex external actuation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 anchors provide secure anchoring with controlled penetration, reducing tissue damage and promoting tissue growth, thereby maintaining the position of medical devices effectively within the anatomy.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing biocompatible materials like Nitinol

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShape memory effect: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

porous biomaterials to enhance tissue integration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentEP3266384B1Devices for engaging tissue
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 WL GORE & ASSOC INC
  • EP3266384B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3266384B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2E
  • EP3266384B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4B

AI summary

The present disclosure describes a system and method for securing medical devices to the tissue of a patient using one or more anchors. Anchors can be independent from or integral to the medical device deployed within the patient. Such anchors are configured to engage and maintain contact with the tissue using a tissue-penetrating point and bendable shaft.