Tricuspid Leaflet Fixation Plates for Minimally Invasive Valve Repair
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for tricuspid regurgitation, a condition where the tricuspid valve does not close tightly, often require invasive open-heart surgery, necessitating a need for minimally invasive methods.
Innovation Solution
A system for endovascular delivery of a fixation device comprising distal and proximal plates with a locking clip, guided by a catheter, to secure the tricuspid valve leaflets, using tension guidewires and optionally a guidance rail for precise placement and fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional open-heart surgery is used for tricuspid valve repair, then the valve can be securely repaired, but the surgical complexity and patient trauma increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guidance rail as an intermediary device that facilitates minimally invasive delivery of the fixation device. The guidance rail is advanced through the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery, providing a stable track for positioning the distal and proximal plates across the tricuspid valve, thereby enabling reliable valve repair without requiring open-heart surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The fixation device is divided into separate modular components: a distal plate, a proximal plate, and a locking clip. These segments can be delivered independently through the guidance rail system and then assembled at the valve site, allowing minimally invasive placement while maintaining the structural integrity needed for reliable repair
2Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive methods are used for tricuspid valve repair, then patient trauma is reduced, but the precision of leaflet fixation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical suturing and stapling methods with a plate-based fixation system that uses a locking clip to secure the leaflet edges. This substitution allows for precise fixation through the guidance rail system while minimizing tissue trauma, as the plates can be positioned accurately without requiring extensive incisions
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance rail serves as a precision intermediary that enables accurate positioning of the fixation device. By advancing the guidance rail through the right ventricle and securing it in the pulmonary artery, the system provides a stable reference for placing the distal and proximal plates at the correct locations across the tricuspid valve, ensuring precise leaflet fixation through a minimally invasive approach
3Strength
If a locking clip is used to secure plates, then the fixation strength increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking clip integrates multiple functions into a single component: it secures the distal plate to the proximal plate, provides structural continuity across the valve, and maintains fixation strength. By merging these functions into one element rather than using separate fasteners, the design achieves strong fixation while minimizing the number of discrete parts
Data Source
AI summary
A fixation device for securing together leaflets of a heart valve is provided. The fixation device may comprise two plates that are disposed on either side of the tricuspid valve. The plates may be secured to one another by a locking clip, thereby securing the valve leaflets between the plates.