Heart Valve Leaflet Pinwheeling Score Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implanting a heart valve prosthesis within a native mitral valve with high ellipticity often results in a lack of coaptation of prosthetic leaflets, leading to undesirable regurgitation due to the elliptical shape of the mitral valve annulus.
Innovation Solution
The heart valve prosthesis is designed with valve leaflets configured to achieve a target pinwheeling score by optimizing the ratio of free edge length to inner diameter, ensuring full contact and minimal overlap between leaflets, and featuring an arcuate base edge, angled commissure edges, and a slightly raised free edge to enhance coaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If valve leaflets are designed with conventional dimensions, then the heart valve prosthesis can be delivered through minimally invasive procedures, but the leaflets fail to coapt properly at the center due to ellipticity of the mitral valve annulus, resulting in regurgitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the free edge length to inner diameter ratio to achieve a target pinwheeling score of 0.94-0.96. This specific parameter optimization ensures that the valve leaflets coapt fully at the center while maintaining minimal overlap, thereby eliminating central regurgitation and improving coaptation quality in elliptical annuli.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by designing the valve leaflets with specific asymmetric geometry including an arcuate base edge and angled commissure edges. This asymmetric configuration allows the leaflets to adapt to the elliptical shape of the mitral valve annulus while maintaining proper coaptation at the center, preventing regurgitation without compromising the low-profile design.
2Reliability
If valve leaflets are designed with increased free edge length to achieve full coaptation, then central regurgitation is minimized, but the risk of valve leaflet abrasion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through precise parameter control by limiting the free edge length to achieve a pinwheeling score of 0.94-0.96. This optimized parameter range ensures full coaptation at the center while maintaining minimal overlap between leaflets, thereby preventing abrasion and maintaining durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by designing the leaflets with just enough free edge length to achieve proper coaptation (target pinwheeling score 0.94-0.96) without excessive extension that would cause abrasion. The angled commissure edges and arcuate base edge provide the necessary geometry for coaptation while limiting the overall free edge length to prevent wear.
3Shape
If valve leaflets are designed with minimal overlap to maintain low profile, then the prosthesis maintains a low profile, but coaptation may be compromised leading to regurgitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through optimized parameter selection by targeting a pinwheeling score of 0.94-0.96, which corresponds to minimal overlap while ensuring full coaptation at the center. This parameter optimization allows the leaflets to maintain a low profile without compromising coaptation quality, preventing regurgitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry in the leaflet geometry with an arcuate base edge and angled commissure edges that are specifically configured to achieve coaptation with minimal overlap. This asymmetric design allows the leaflets to coapt properly at the center while maintaining a low profile, eliminating the trade-off between profile height and coaptation quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthetic valve component is disclosed for a valve prosthesis. The valve component includes valve leaflets configured to be operably coupled within a frame of the valve prosthesis, wherein each valve leaflet is shaped and sized to achieve a target pinwheeling score PS. The target pinwheeling score correlates to full contact being made between free edges of the valve leaflets, when the valve leaflets are operably coupled within the frame of the valve prosthesis, such that no central opening and little to no overlap occurs between the valve leaflets.