Surgical Cutting Assembly for Heart Valve Leaflet Laceration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) systems face challenges with coronary obstruction due to failed valves, necessitating the need for systems to excise or lacerate portions of native or implanted heart valves to prevent blood flow obstruction to coronary arteries.
Innovation Solution
A surgical system with cutting assemblies, including hooks and electrodes, is designed to access, traverse, and lacerate leaflets of heart valves, allowing for the excision or removal of damaged or calcified leaflets through a TAVR sheath, using steerable catheters and actuators for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a new valve is implanted to replace a failed valve, then valve replacement is achieved, but coronary obstruction risk increases due to leaflet pushing up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the problematic leaflet tissue from the valve structure using a cutting assembly with hooks and electrodes. By taking out the specific harmful portion (leaflet) that causes coronary obstruction, the system eliminates the harmful effect while preserving the rest of the valve structure, thus resolving the contradiction between valve replacement success and coronary obstruction risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of the failed valve leaflet (pushing up and causing obstruction) into a beneficial outcome by using electrical energy and mechanical hooks to deliberately cut and remove the same leaflet. The harmful tissue is transformed into a target for removal, converting the obstruction problem into a solvable cutting problem that eliminates the risk.
2Adaptability or versatility
If percutaneous valve-in-valve intervention is performed, then valve replacement is achieved, but coronary obstruction risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first cutting and removing the problematic leaflet tissue before completing the valve-in-valve intervention. The cutting assembly is used to excise the harmful portion in advance, preventing it from causing coronary obstruction during the subsequent valve implantation, thus enabling safe percutaneous valve-in-valve intervention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If leaflet excision is performed to prevent coronary obstruction, then coronary obstruction risk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single cutting assembly: the assembly combines hooks for mechanical engagement, electrodes for electrical energy application, and cutting edges for tissue removal. By merging these components into one integrated unit that can be delivered through a catheter, the system reduces overall procedure complexity while effectively addressing coronary obstruction risk through leaflet excision.
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 system effectively removes valve leaflet portions, reducing the risk of coronary obstruction by facilitating safe and controlled excision or laceration of damaged heart valves, thereby improving the efficacy of TAVR procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A cutting assembly may be used to traverse and/or lacerate a leaflet of a valve. In some cases, the cutting assembly may include a hook and an electrode. Advancing the cutting assembly through the leaflet may cause the electrode to traverse the leaflet. Retracting the cutting assembly through the leaflet may cause the electrode to lacerate the leaflet.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a surgical systems for traversing and lacerating a valve leaflet.