Wave-Edge Occlusive Implant for Low-Force LAA Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation often fails to contract properly, leading to blood stagnation and thrombus formation, which can result in thrombi entering the bloodstream and causing stroke or heart attack, and existing medical devices struggle to effectively seal the left atrial appendage while minimizing deployment forces.

Innovation Solution

An occlusive implant with an expandable framework and an occlusive member featuring alternating peaks and valleys, anchored by multiple rows of anchor members, is designed to seal the left atrial appendage, promoting endothelialization and reducing deployment forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing medical devices are used to seal the left atrial appendage, then thrombus formation is reduced, but deployment forces are excessive and sealing effectiveness is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoiddeployment forces

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The occlusive member is segmented into multiple discrete anchors distributed across its structure, with each anchor independently engaging the tissue. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be distributed across multiple attachment points, improving overall sealing effectiveness while reducing the force required at any single deployment point

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The occlusive member features locally varied properties with anchors of different sizes, shapes, and engagement characteristics positioned at specific locations. This local quality optimization allows each anchor to be tailored for its specific engagement requirement, improving sealing at critical locations while minimizing overall deployment force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the occlusive member uses a wave configuration with peaks and valleys, then endothelialization is promoted and sealing is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The occlusive member employs a wave configuration with alternating peaks and valleys that create curved surfaces. This curvature promotes endothelialization by mimicking natural tissue contours and improving blood flow patterns, while the repeating wave pattern maintains manufacturing simplicity through periodic geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If multiple rows of anchor members are used, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple rows of anchor members are designed with standardized geometries and attachment methods that can be manufactured using the same processes. This universality allows the multi-row configuration to achieve superior sealing through increased attachment density while maintaining ease of manufacture through component standardization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260069276A1Occlusive medical device

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

Example occlusive implants are disclosed. An example occlusive implant includes an expandable framework configured to shift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the framework includes a proximal end region and a distal end region. Further, the occlusive implant includes an occlusive member disposed along at least a portion of the expandable framework, wherein a distal extent of the occlusive member extends circumferentially around the framework in a wave configuration.