Variable-Lumen Grip for Precise TAVR Valve Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenges associated with efficiently and reliably loading a prosthetic heart valve into a delivery system include the need for careful management of multiple components and the risk of introducing air during the process, which requires multiple workers and increases patient risk.
Innovation Solution
The use of a grip with a variable diameter lumen, defined by a gasket or circumferential gaps, to frictionally engage the shaft and prevent proximal travel of the loading tube, allowing for easier and more controlled loading of the prosthetic valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual loading of prosthetic valve into delivery system is performed, then loading precision can be maintained, but loading time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The loading tube is designed to self-load the prosthetic valve through its interaction with the shaft. The variable diameter lumen creates frictional engagement that automatically positions and secures the valve during the loading process, eliminating the need for multiple workers to manually manipulate components while maintaining precise alignment.
2Reliability
If multiple workers are used to manage components during loading, then component management reliability improves, but patient risk increases due to longer procedure time
Solution Approach 1:
The grip integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides frictional engagement with the shaft, prevents proximal travel of the loading tube, and maintains proper positioning of the prosthetic valve. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components that need to be managed, thereby reducing patient exposure time and associated risks.
3Ease of operation
If loading tube is allowed to travel freely along shaft, then ease of operation improves, but loading precision deteriorates due to inability to control position
Solution Approach 1:
The grip features a variable diameter lumen that can dynamically adjust its internal diameter. This allows the grip to transition between a relaxed state during insertion and a constricted state during loading, where the reduced diameter creates frictional engagement to prevent unwanted movement while maintaining ease of initial operation.
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 grip facilitates efficient and reliable loading of prosthetic valves by reducing the need for manual force application, minimizing the risk of air introduction, and ensuring precise alignment during the loading process.
Implementation Method 1
Movement of the fitting may affect a degree of axial compression of the gasket, which may be inversely correlated with the diameter of the portion of the lumen having a variable diameter
Implementation Method 2
The portion of variable diameter may be usable to frictionally engage a shaft received within the lumen
Data Source
AI summary
A grip for inhibiting travel of a prosthetic valve loading tube along an outer shaft of a delivery catheter system has a lumen extending therethrough. A portion of the lumen has a variable internal diameter for selective frictional engagement with the outer shaft. In some arrangements, the variable internal diameter is provided by variable compression of a gasket aligned on the lumen. In other arrangements, the variable internal diameter is provided by a portion of the grip that surrounds the lumen and that has at least one circumferential gap of variable width.