Transcatheter Severing Device for Heart Valve Leaflet Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transcatheter devices lack the capability to effectively manage and replace damaged or diseased heart valves, particularly in managing the leaflets of defective heart valves during catheter-based implantations of prosthetic heart valves.

Innovation Solution

A transcatheter device equipped with a severing device that includes a shaft, handle, distal tip, and a sheath, featuring a severing mechanism that can pivot from a loaded to a deployed state, allowing for precise laceration of heart valve leaflets, followed by radial expansion of an expandable stent frame to replace the defective valve.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a transcatheter device is used to replace a damaged heart valve, then the procedure becomes minimally invasive, but the device lacks the capability to effectively manage and replace damaged leaflets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveminimally invasive procedureVSAvoidcapability to manage and replace damaged leaflets
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into functionally independent components: a severing device for managing leaflets, an expandable stent frame for structural support and valve replacement, and a delivery catheter for minimally invasive delivery. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively while maintaining overall minimally invasive capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transcatheter device integrates multiple functions into a single system: the severing device can sever and manage leaflets, the expandable stent frame can provide structural support and enable valve replacement, and the delivery catheter facilitates minimally invasive delivery. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing both minimally invasive delivery and effective leaflet management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the severing device is deployed to sever leaflets, then the replacement capability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplacement capabilityVSAvoidsevering device mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The severing device is pre-loaded in a compressed state within the delivery catheter before insertion. The severing elements are positioned and ready to engage with the leaflets upon deployment, eliminating the need for complex in-situ assembly or adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The severing device is nested within the delivery catheter and stent frame structure during delivery, with the severing elements contained within a protective sheath. Upon deployment, the sheath is retracted to expose the severing elements, allowing a compact nested configuration during delivery and an expanded functional configuration during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4635451A1Transcatheter devices and methods
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 MEDTRONIC INC
  • EP4635451A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4635451A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4635451A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Transcatheter devices comprise a shaft comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion. The transcatheter devices further comprise a handle device coupled to the proximal portion of the shaft. The handle device comprises a first actuator. The transcatheter devices further comprise a distal tip coupled to the distal portion of the shaft. The transcatheter devices further comprise a severing device comprising a proximal portion pivotally mounted to the distal tip. The severing device configured to be pivoted from a loaded state to a deployed state. Methods include moving a severing device from a loaded state to a deployed state. Methods further include severing at least one leaflet with the severing device in the deployed state and radially expanding the expandable stent frame.