Valved Conduit with Sinuses and Leaflet Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for manufacturing valved conduits are tedious, time-consuming, and require great skill, with leaflets being precisely cut and attached to the conduit's inner surface, leading to structural weakening and reduced durability due to repetitive loads and limited load distribution.
Innovation Solution
A valved conduit design involving a conduit split into two sections with commissure slots, where leaflets are attached using a leaflet attachment edge that extends between the sections, and bridge regions or commissure tabs are folded into bridge loops or slots, enhancing durability and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If leaflets are precisely cut and sewn by hand onto the everted conduit, then the valve structure can be assembled, but the process becomes tedious, time-consuming and requires great skill
Solution Approach 1:
The leaflets are pre-assembled with the conduit in a rolled configuration before eversion, allowing precise placement to be accomplished during the rolling process rather than requiring complex hand-sewing operations. The leaflet attachment edges are positioned and secured in advance, eliminating the need for tedious post-assembly adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual hand-sewing process is replaced with a rolling mechanism that mechanically secures the leaflets to the conduit. The rolling action itself performs the attachment function, substituting the need for needle and thread operations with a mechanical rolling and securing process.
2Reliability
If multiple punctures are made in the attachment edge for suture, then the leaflet can be secured to the conduit, but the punctures reduce structural strength and are exposed to blood flow at the line of flexure
Solution Approach 1:
The suture punctures are extracted from the attachment edge location and relocated to the rolled portion of the conduit. This removes the harmful effect of punctures from the critical attachment edge area, preserving its structural integrity while maintaining secure attachment through the rolled configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolled portion of the conduit acts as an intermediary that transfers the attachment function away from the attachment edge. The rolling mechanism provides the mediating structure that secures the leaflet without requiring punctures in the attachment edge itself, thereby protecting the edge from structural weakening.
3Ease of manufacture
If the conduit is everted for leaflet attachment, then the inner surface is accessible, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of everting the conduit to access the inner surface for attachment, the process is inverted by rolling the conduit in the opposite direction. This inversion allows the leaflet attachment edges to be positioned and secured on the outer surface during the rolling process, eliminating the need for eversion while maintaining accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaflet attachment is performed preliminarily during the rolling process rather than requiring a separate eversion and attachment phase. The rolling action itself accomplishes the attachment function, integrating what would otherwise be separate steps into a single efficient operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An implant comprising a conduit including a distal portion having a distal end and a proximal portion having a proximal end, the proximal portion comprising one or more sinuses having a concave shape relative to an inner surface of the proximal portion. The implant further comprises a valve structure including at least one leaflet disposed adjacent to at least one of the one or more sinuses, each of the at least one leaflet having a free edge and a leaflet attachment edge coupled between the distal end and the proximal end.