Annuloplasty Implant
A method of making an annuloplasty implant includes forming first and second support rings arranged in a coiled configuration around an axial direction and forming at least part of the first and second support ring from a carbon fiber material. The first and second support rings can be formed by 3-D printing according to dimensions of a 3-D reconstruction of a heart valve.
This invention pertains in general to the field of cardiac valve replacement and repair. More particularly the invention relates to an annuloplasty implant, such as an annuloplasty ring or helix, for positioning at the heart valve annulus and a method of manufacturing an annuloplasty implant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDiseased mitral and tricuspid valves frequently need replacement or repair. The mitral and tricuspid valve leaflets or supporting chordae may degenerate and weaken or the annulus may dilate leading to valve leak. Mitral and tricuspid valve replacement and repair are frequently performed with aid of an annuloplasty ring, used to reduce the diameter of the annulus, or modify the geometry of the annulus in any other way, or aid as a generally supporting structure during the valve replacement or repair procedure.
A problem with prior art annuloplasty implants lack of flexibility of the implant in certain situations, which impedes optimal functioning when implanted in the moving heart, or adaptability to varying anatomies. While the elastic properties are important, an annuloplasty implant is also intended to function for years and years, so it is critical with long term stability. Material fatigue may nevertheless lead to rupture of the material, which may be unexpected and uncontrolled. This entails a higher risk to the patient and it is thus a further problem of prior art devices.
A further problem with prior art annuloplasty implants is the complex manufacturing thereof. Annuloplasty implants may have to be manufactured by time-consuming milling processes. Such manufacturing processes may also impede patient specific tailoring of the implants. The annuloplasty implants are thus cumbersome to optimize to the anatomy of the specific patient. This entails a higher risk to the patient and is thus a further problem of prior art devices.
The above problems may have dire consequences for the patient and the health care system. Patient risk is increased.
Hence, an improved annuloplasty implant would be advantageous and in particular allowing for avoiding more of the above mentioned problems and compromises, and in particular allowing for improved accommodation to the valve anatomy, secure long-term functioning, and facilitated manufacturing and tailoring of the annuloplasty implant to varying anatomies. A related manufacturing method would also be advantageous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, examples of the present invention preferably seek to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more deficiencies, disadvantages or issues in the art, such as the above-identified, singly or in any combination by providing a device according to the appended patent claims.
According to a first aspect an annuloplasty implant is provided comprising first and second support rings arranged in a coiled configuration around an axial direction, and being adapted to be arranged on opposite sides of native heart valve leaflets to pinch said leaflets. At least part of said first and second support ring is formed from a carbon fiber material. The first and second support rings are resiliently movable with respect to each other in opposite directions along said axial direction.
According to a second aspect a method of manufacturing an annuloplasty implant is provided comprising forming first and second support rings arranged in a coiled configuration around an axial direction, and forming at least part of said first and second support ring from a carbon fiber material.
According to a third aspect a method of manufacturing an annuloplasty implant is provided comprising determining dimensions of an annuloplasty implant based on a three-dimensional reconstruction of a heart valve determined from patient medical imaging data, forming first and second support rings arranged in a coiled configuration around an axial direction by three-dimensional printing for patient-specific manufacturing of the annuloplasty implant according to said dimensions, wherein at least part of said first and second support ring is formed by depositing a carbon fiber material in a layer by layer deposition by said three-dimensional printing.
Further examples of the invention are defined in the dependent claims, wherein features for the second and subsequent aspects are as for the first aspect mutatis mutandis.
Some examples of the disclosure provide for increased safety in case of material fatigue and rupture.
Some examples of the disclosure provide for securing long-term functioning and position of an annuloplasty implant.
Some examples of the disclosure provide for a more flexible implant. Some examples of the disclosure provide for improved accommodation of an annuloplasty implant to varying anatomies.
Some examples of the disclosure provide for facilitated tailoring of an annuloplasty implant to patient specific anatomies.
Some examples of the disclosure provide for facilitated manufacturing of an annuloplasty implant.
Some examples of the disclosure provide for a less costly manufacturing of an annuloplasty implant.
It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
The following description focuses on an embodiment of the present invention applicable to cardiac valve implants such as annuloplasty rings. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this application but may be applied to many other annuloplasty implants and cardiac valve implants including for example replacement valves, and other medical implantable devices.
The carbon fiber material 105 may comprise a first plurality carbon fibers 105 extending substantially in a longitudinal direction 107 of the first and/or second support rings 101 and 102 along an annular periphery 114 thereof, as schematically illustrated in
The carbon fiber material 105 may comprise a weave 109 of carbon fibers, whereby a second plurality of carbon fibers 105′ extends substantially in a radial direction 108 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 107, as schematically illustrated in
The carbon fiber material 105 may comprise a tubular braid 110 of carbon fibers extending along the first and second support rings 101 and 102. The tubular form of the braid 110 may be particularly advantageous in providing structural integrity of the first and second support rings 101 and 102. The braid 110 may be formed in a layered configuration where a plurality of tubular braids are arranged concentrically within successively reduced diameters. The number of layers of tubular braids 110 may be varied to achieve desired mechanical properties of the annuloplasty implant 100 for customization to a particular application.
The first and/or second support rings 101 and 102 may comprise a core material 111 of a polymer material or metal alloy. The carbon fiber material 105 may then be at least partly arranged around a periphery 112 of the core material 111, as schematically illustrated in
The first and/or second support rings 101 and 102 may comprise a carbon fiber core 105, 105′, 109, 110, of a carbon fiber material, as illustrated in
The carbon fiber material 105 may be interwoven with secondary fibers 115 of a polymer material or a metal alloy, as schematically shown in
The carbon fiber material 105 may comprise a layered carbon structure formed by three-dimensional printing of a plurality of carbon layers 113, 113′.
The annuloplasty implant 100 may comprise a laminate structure having a plurality of secondary layers 116, 116′, interposed between said plurality of carbon layers 113, 113′, as illustrated in
Although the above annuloplasty implant 100 has primarily been described as comprising first and second support rings 101 and 102 in a coiled configuration, it is conceivable that the advantageous properties and effects provided for by the carbon fiber material 105 can also be utilized in annuloplasty rings comprising closed single-loop rings, such as D-shaped rings, or open single-loop rings, such as C-shaped annuloplasty rings. A single-loop ring 100′ with a support ring 101 comprising a carbon fiber material 105 is schematically illustrated in
The method 200 may comprise forming 206 the first and second support rings 101 and 102 of a carbon fiber core 105, 105′, 109, 110, of carbon fiber material, and forming 207 a layer 111′ outside said core of a secondary material, as described in relation to
The method 200 may comprise forming 208 the first and second support rings 101 and 102 of a core 111 of a secondary material, and forming 209 a carbon fiber layer 105, 105′, 109, 110, outside the core of carbon fiber material. As mentioned, the secondary material may be a polymer or metal alloy, and the carbon layer may comprise carbon fibers 105 extending longitudinally, in the longitudinal direction 107, or carbon fibers 105′ extending in the radial direction 108, or a weave 109 of carbon fibers, or a tubular braiding 110 of carbon fibers.
Forming the first and second support rings 101 and 102 may comprise providing 210 an elongate portion of the carbon fiber material, and forming 211 a coiled shape having the first and second support rings 101 and 102 on a mold (not shown). The method may subsequently comprise fixating 212 the coiled shape, such as by a curing process, and removing 213 the mold.
The method 200 may comprise determining 214 dimensions of the annuloplasty implant 100 based on a three-dimensional reconstruction of a heart valve, such as a mitral valve, determined from patient medical imaging data, such as MRI- or CT-scan medical imaging data. The method 200 may then further comprise forming 215 the first and second rings 101, 102, by three-dimensional printing for patient-specific manufacturing of the annuloplasty implant 100 according to said dimensions. The method 200 thus provides for a rapid process of providing a highly customizable annuloplasty implant 100, having the benefits as elucidated above, to individual patients.
A method 300 is thus also provided, schematically illustrated in
The present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, other embodiments than the above described are equally possible within the scope of the invention. The different features and steps of the invention may be combined in other combinations than those described. The scope of the invention is only limited by the appended patent claims.
More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings of the present invention is/are used.
Claims
1. A method of manufacturing an annuloplasty implant, said method comprising;
- forming first and second support rings arranged in a coiled configuration around an axial direction and
- forming at least part of the first and second support ring from a carbon fiber material.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said forming the first and second support rings comprises depositing material in a layer-by-layer deposition by three-dimensional printing.
3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:
- determining dimensions of the annuloplasty implant based on a three-dimensional reconstruction of a heart valve determined from patient medical imaging data, and
- forming the first and second rings by the three-dimensional printing for patient-specific manufacturing of the annuloplasty implant according to said dimensions.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said depositing material comprises depositing layers of the carbon fiber material.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said depositing material comprises depositing a secondary material between the layers of carbon fiber material.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the secondary material comprises a polymer material or metal alloy.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises:
- forming the first and second support rings of a carbon core of carbon fiber material, and
- forming a layer outside the core of a secondary material.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the secondary material comprises a polymer material or metal alloy.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises:
- forming the first and second support rings of a core of a secondary material, and
- forming a carbon layer of carbon fiber material outside the core.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the secondary material comprises a polymer material or metal alloy.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises interweaving the carbon fiber material with secondary fibers of a secondary material.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the secondary material comprises a polymer material or metal alloy.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said forming the first and second support rings comprises;
- providing an elongate portion of the carbon fiber material,
- forming a coiled shape having the first and second support rings on a mold,
- fixating the coiled shape, and
- removing the mold.
14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises forming a weave of carbon fibers of the carbon fiber material.
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises forming a tubular braid of carbon fibers of the carbon fiber material.
16. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises forming a first plurality carbon fibers of the carbon fiber material extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of the first and/or second support ring along an annular periphery thereof so that the first and second support rings are resiliently movable in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the carbon fibers.
17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising forming a second plurality of carbon fibers extending substantially in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first and/or second support ring.
18. A method of manufacturing an annuloplasty implant, said method comprising:
- determining dimensions of an annuloplasty implant based on a three-dimensional reconstruction of a heart valve determined from patient medical imaging data, and
- forming first and second support rings arranged in a coiled configuration around an axial direction by three-dimensional printing for patient-specific manufacturing of the annuloplasty implant according to said dimensions.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein at least part of the first and second support ring is formed by depositing a carbon fiber material in a layer-by-layer deposition by the three-dimensional printing.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 27, 2022
Publication Date: Mar 23, 2023
Inventors: Hans-Reinhard ZERKOWSKI (Kreuzlingen), Olli KERANEN (Bjarred)
Application Number: 17/994,337