Valve Suturing Catheter With Grasping Arms and Guided Needles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suturing methods for heart valves, such as the Alfieri technique and MitraClip procedure, are invasive, time-consuming, and skill-dependent, posing risks to patients and complicating recovery.
Innovation Solution
A suturing device with tissue grasping arms and needle lumens that allow for less-invasive suturing of heart valves, enabling percutaneous or laparoscopic procedures by grasping tissue and guiding needles to penetrate and retract through the tissue to secure sutures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional suturing methods (open-heart surgery, Alfieri technique, MitraClip procedure) are used, then heart valves can be repaired, but the procedures are invasive, time-consuming, and subject to patient trauma and infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a delivery catheter as an intermediary device that guides the suturing apparatus through blood vessels to reach the heart valve. This intermediary system enables percutaneous access, eliminating the need for invasive open-heart surgery while maintaining effective valve repair capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical open-heart surgical system with a percutaneous catheter-based system. The suturing apparatus is delivered through a flexible catheter that navigates through the cardiovascular system, substituting the need for chest opening and heart-lung machine support.
2Reliability
If conventional suturing techniques are used, then valve repair can be achieved, but the procedures are time-consuming and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines tissue grasping, needle delivery, and suture anchoring functions into a single integrated apparatus. The grasping arms and needle lumens are merged into one device that can be delivered through a catheter, enabling multiple suturing operations to be performed sequentially without requiring device exchanges or complex manual manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The suturing apparatus is pre-loaded within the delivery catheter with needles positioned in needle lumens and grasping arms configured for immediate tissue engagement. This preliminary preparation allows the operator to perform suturing operations immediately upon reaching the target valve, eliminating setup time and reducing overall procedure duration.
3Reliability
If conventional suturing methods are used, then valve repair can be performed, but the success is highly dependent on user skill
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus features self-aligning grasping arms that automatically position themselves on opposing valve leaflets, and needle lumens that guide needles along predetermined trajectories. The device performs alignment and positioning functions autonomously, reducing the need for highly skilled manual manipulation while ensuring consistent suture placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates adjustable grasping arm configurations and needle lumens with specific geometric parameters that optimize tissue engagement and needle delivery. By carefully designing the physical parameters of the apparatus components, the device achieves reliable performance across different operators and anatomical variations.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If percutaneous suturing is implemented, then patient trauma is reduced, but the device must navigate complex anatomical structures
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery catheter is designed as a flexible, dynamically controllable structure that can navigate the cardiovascular system's complex geometry. The catheter's flexible construction allows it to conform to vessel curves and reach the heart valve through percutaneous access, while still providing sufficient support to deliver the rigid suturing apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The suturing apparatus with its grasping arms and needle lumens is nested within the delivery catheter in a compact configuration. This nested arrangement allows the complex suturing device to be delivered through the relatively small catheter lumen and then deployed at the target site, simplifying the navigation requirement while maintaining device functionality.
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2D
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AI summary
Suturing apparatuses can be configured to suture biological tissue, such as an anatomical valve. The suturing apparatuses can include a suturing device having an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, one or more tissue grasping arms, and a handle with actuators. The suturing device can further include at least two needles. One of the tissue grasping arms can have at least two suture mounts each loaded with a suture portion. The suture portions on the suture mounts can form a single suture strand. Methods for suturing bodily tissue may be performed with the suturing apparatuses. The tissue grasping arms can grasp tissue therebetween and at least two needles can be deployed toward the suture mounts, engage the suture portions, and be retracted through the tissue. A knot can be tied on the ends of the suture strand retrieved by the needles.