Valve Cusp Sizer With Offset Hole For Accurate Aortic Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve cusp sizers with handles attached to the center of a partial cylinder fail to accurately measure valve cusp sizes due to potential radial pushing, causing the aorta to spread and distort measurements.

Innovation Solution

A valve cusp sizer design featuring a back surface for contact with the body, with holes on the top surface at predetermined distances from the center for support rod insertion, allowing for stable positioning and accurate measurement by preventing radial pushing and tilting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a handle is attached to the center of the partial cylinder that forms the arcuate surface, then the valve cusp sizer can be easily gripped and operated, but the valve cusp sizer may be pushed in the radial direction of the aorta causing inaccurate measurement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of grippingVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is extracted from the center position and relocated to the end of the arcuate surface. This removes the harmful radial pushing force from the measurement interface while preserving the gripping function. The support rod inserted through the hole provides alternative support without interfering with the measurement contact between the arcuate surface and the aorta.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A support rod is introduced as an intermediary element that passes through a hole in the arcuate surface. This support rod provides structural support and stability during measurement, preventing the arcuate surface from being pushed radially into the aorta, while allowing the handle to be positioned optimally for operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the valve cusp sizer is pressed against the inner wall of the aorta for measurement, then contact with the commissure part can be achieved, but the aorta spreads and the size of the valve cusp cannot be measured accurately

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact accuracyVSAvoidaorta spreading

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support rod acts as a counterbalancing element that opposes the radial pushing force. By providing support from the opposite direction through the hole in the arcuate surface, it counteracts the force that would otherwise cause the aorta to spread, maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The support rod is inserted through the hole before the measurement process begins, establishing preliminary support and preventing aorta spreading before the measurement contact is made. This preliminary action ensures the aorta remains in its natural state during measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20210386548A1Valve cusp sizer

Publication Date: 2021.12.16 OZAKI SHIGEYUKI

AI summary

A valve cusp sizer includes a back surface brought into contact with a living body, and a hole that is formed on the top surface at a distance from the center in a left-right direction toward one side in the left-right direction and into which a support rod is inserted.