CN111035475B

CN111035475B - Force measuring device

Info

Publication number: CN111035475B
Application number: CN201911379157.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 姚斌
Original assignee: Lifetech Scientific Shenzhen Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Advanced Medical Services Co ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-27
Filing date: 2019-12-27
Publication date: 2022-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-27
Also published as: CN111035475A

Abstract

The invention relates to a force measuring device which comprises a handle assembly, a pushing assembly, a tether fixing assembly and a force measuring assembly. The pushing assembly is located at the far end of the handle assembly, the tether fixing assembly is arranged at the near end of the handle assembly and comprises a spiral shaft and a force measuring sensor arranged at the near end of the spiral shaft, the far end of the spiral shaft is connected with the pushing assembly, the near end of the spiral shaft is arranged on the handle assembly in a sliding mode, a tether channel for a tether to pass through is arranged in the spiral shaft, the force measuring sensor is connected with the tether fixing assembly, the handle assembly can move axially relative to the spiral shaft to adjust the tension of the tether passing through the tether channel of the spiral shaft, and the force measuring sensor is used for measuring the tension of the tether. The force measuring device can adjust the tension of the tether by adjusting the axial movement of the handle assembly relative to the spiral shaft, the force measuring sensor can measure the tension of the tether, and the heart valve can be better fixed in the heart by adjusting and measuring the tension of the tether.

Description

Force measuring device

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of medical instruments, in particular to a force measuring device.

Background

Some known prosthetic heart valves (e.g., prosthetic mitral valves) include one or more tethers that extend from the valve to the exterior of the heart and are secured to the outer ventricular wall of the heart with apex spacers. By the restraining force of the tether, the valve is not squeezed into the atrium during systole, thereby reducing the risk of regurgitation of blood from the mitral valve into the atrium.

The degree of tensioning of the tether determines the effectiveness of the heart valve fixation. When the tether is loosened, the heart valve cannot be pulled to the apex of the heart by the tether, and when the heart contracts, the blood flow of the ventricle impacts the valve, the heart valve can move to the atrium side, so that a gap is generated between the native valve and the implanted heart valve, the paravalvular leakage phenomenon is generated, and the operation is failed. When the tether is over-tensioned, the heart muscle is over-compressed, which may affect the pumping of blood to the heart and, if severe, may also damage the heart muscle and cause heart failure.

Currently, existing devices do not have the ability to measure the tension on the tether during heart valve implantation to help the tether provide the optimal tension.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, it is desirable to provide a force measuring device.

A force measuring device comprising:

a handle assembly;

a pusher assembly at a distal end of the handle assembly, the pusher assembly for releasable connection to an apex shim for securing a tether extending from within the heart outside the heart;

a tether securing assembly disposed at a proximal end of the handle assembly, the tether securing assembly for clamping a tether;

the force measuring assembly comprises a screw shaft and a force measuring sensor arranged at the near end of the screw shaft, the far end of the screw shaft is connected with the pushing assembly, the near end of the screw shaft is arranged on the handle assembly in a sliding mode, a tether channel for a tether to pass through is arranged in the screw shaft, the tether sequentially passes through the apex cordis gasket, the pushing assembly and the tether channel and then passes out of the tether fixing piece, the force measuring sensor is arranged in the handle assembly and connected with the tether fixing assembly, the handle assembly can axially move relative to the screw shaft to adjust the tension of the tether passing through the tether channel of the screw shaft, and the force measuring sensor is used for measuring the tension of the tether.

In one embodiment, the handle assembly includes a housing, the screw shaft is slidably disposed within the housing, a slide slot is disposed within the housing, and a protrusion is disposed on a proximal end of the screw shaft, the protrusion being slidably disposed within the slide slot.

In one embodiment, the handle assembly further comprises a knob rotatably disposed on the housing, the screw shaft penetrates through the knob, and the screw shaft and the knob are rotatably connected through a thread.

In one embodiment, the housing is provided with a receiving groove, and the knob is received in the receiving groove.

In one embodiment, the tether fixing assembly includes a fixing seat, a pressing block and a pressing rod, the fixing seat is disposed in the handle assembly, the tether passes through the fixing seat, the pressing block is fixedly connected with the pressing rod, the pressing rod is movably connected with the fixing seat, and the pressing rod drives the pressing block to move towards the fixing seat so as to clamp the tether passing through the fixing seat.

In one embodiment, a through groove for the tether to pass through is formed in the fixing seat, the pressing block is slidably arranged on the side wall of the through groove, and the bottom of the pressing block is matched with the bottom of the through groove in shape.

In one embodiment, the bottom of the through groove is semi-arc-shaped.

In one embodiment, the tether fixing assembly further comprises an extension tube disposed at the proximal end of the fixing seat, one end of the extension tube is communicated with the through groove, and the other end of the extension tube extends out of the handle assembly.

In one embodiment, the load cell is further connected with a connecting wire, and one end of the connecting wire, which is far away from the load cell, is used for connecting an external display.

In one embodiment, the distal end of the screw shaft is fixedly connected with the pushing assembly through riveting.

The force measuring device can adjust the tension of the tether by adjusting the axial movement of the handle assembly relative to the spiral shaft, the force measuring sensor can measure the tension of the tether, and the heart valve can be better fixed in the heart by adjusting and measuring the tension of the tether.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a heart valve according to an embodiment of the present application after implantation in a heart;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a force measuring device according to a first embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway view of a pusher assembly of the force measuring device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a pusher assembly of the force measuring device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of the apex shim of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway view of the force measuring device of FIG. 2 assembled with an apex shim;

FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway view of the force measuring device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway view of the force measuring device of FIG. 2 in a condition;

FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway view of the force measuring device of FIG. 2 in another condition;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the tether lock of the force measuring device of FIG. 2 after attachment of the tether;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the tether lock of the force measuring device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a force measuring device according to a second embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 13 is a partial cutaway view of the force measuring device of FIG. 12 in a state after attachment to a tether;

FIG. 14 is a partial cutaway view of the force measuring device of FIG. 12 in another state after attachment to a tether;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a force measuring device according to a third embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 16 is a partial cutaway view of the force measuring device shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an exploded view, partially in section, of the force measuring device of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a partial cutaway view of the force measuring device shown in FIG. 15 after attachment to a tether.

Detailed Description

In order to make the aforementioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein, but rather should be construed as broadly as the present invention is capable of modification in various respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "secured to" or "disposed on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and the like as used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only embodiments.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

In this application, "distal" and "proximal" refer to directions further away and closer to, respectively, an operator of, for example, a medical device. Thus, for example, the end of the medical device closest to (e.g., contacting or disposed within) the body of the patient is the distal end of the medical device, and the end opposite the distal end and closest to, for example, the user of the medical device (or the hand of the user) is the proximal end of the medical device.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural view of a heart valve according to an embodiment of the present application after implantation in the heart. The heart valve comprises a valve support 11, a tether 12 and an apex gasket 13, wherein one end of the tether 12 is fixed with the valve support 11, and the other end is connected with the apex gasket 13. When the heart valve is implanted, the valve support 11 is clamped at the mitral valve annulus, and the tether 12 extends out of the heart and is fixed with the apex gasket 13. The apex shim 13 is located at the apex outside the heart and can act to tension the tether 12 to secure the heart valve in place and also to block the access passage at the apex during delivery.

When implanting a heart valve, after the heart valve has been released from the delivery sheath, the delivery sheath is withdrawn, the tether 12 is extended out of the heart, whereupon the force-measuring device 10 is secured to the apex shim 13, while the tether is threaded through the apex shim 13 and anchored to the force-measuring device 10, the force-measuring device 10 is adjusted so that the tether 12 is pulled/pulled to a suitable tension, at which the tether 12 is secured to the apex shim 13, when the presence of valvular leaks is detected, e.g. by ultrasound or DSA (digital subtraction angiography), etc., the length of the tether 12 is locked.

Referring to fig. 2, the force measuring device 10 of the first embodiment of the present application includes a housing 100, a pushing assembly 200 and a force measuring assembly 300, wherein the pushing assembly 200 is located at a distal end of the housing 100, and the force measuring assembly 300 is disposed on the housing 100.

In one embodiment, the housing 100 is fixedly connected to the pushing assembly 200. Specifically, the shell 100 and the pushing assembly 200 are fixedly connected through riveting, so that screws can be avoided, and the assembly and disassembly are more convenient.

Referring also to fig. 3, 4 and 6, the pusher assembly 200 is adapted to releasably engage the apex shim 13. The pushing assembly 200 includes a pushing shell 210 and a joint 220, wherein the joint 220 is disposed on the pushing shell 210, and an outer end of the joint 220 extends out of the pushing shell 210. The push housing 210 is fixedly connected to the housing. In the present embodiment, the push case 210 is fixedly connected to the housing 100 by riveting. The engaging member 220 is used for connecting with the apex shim 13, the apex shim 13 is provided with a fixing hole 13a for connecting with the engaging member 210, the distal end of the engaging member 220 is inserted into the fixing hole 13a, the distal end of the engaging member 220 is larger in size than the fixing hole 13a after the apex shim 13 is loaded on the engaging member 220, and the distal end of the engaging member 220 is reduced in size to be disengaged from the fixing hole 13a when the engaging member 220 releases the apex shim 13.

The joint 220 includes an elastic tube 221 and a filling core 222, a distal end of the filling core 222 penetrates through the elastic tube 221, and the filling core 222 is slidably disposed in the elastic tube 221. The elastic tube 221 is fixedly disposed on the pushing casing 210, and a distal end of the elastic tube 221 extends out of the pushing casing 210, an extending direction of the elastic tube 221 is parallel to a central axis of the pushing casing 210, and the distal end of the elastic tube 221 is used for connecting with the apex cordis pad 13. When the distal end of the elastic tube 221 is inserted into the fixing hole 13a of the apex cordis pad 13, the elastic tube 221 is vertically connected with the apex cordis pad 13, and the apex cordis pad 13 is vertical to the extending direction of the tether 12, so that the adjustment of the included angle between the tether 12 and the apex cordis pad 13 in the operation process can be avoided, the operation difficulty can be reduced, and the accuracy of the subsequent tension value measurement of the tether 12 can be improved.

In one embodiment, the elastic tube 221 is a hollow tube, the inner diameter of the elastic tube 221 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the filling core 222, and the maximum outer diameter of the distal end of the elastic tube 221 is larger than the diameter of the fixing hole 13a in a natural state. The filling core 222 is disposed coaxially with the elastic tube 221. When the core 222 is slid to be flush with the distal end of the elastic tube 221, the distal end of the elastic tube 221 is expanded, the distal end diameter of the elastic tube 221 is larger than the fixing hole 13a, creating an interference fit to fix the apex shim 13 at the distal end of the elastic tube 221. When the filling core 222 is withdrawn proximally, the distal diameter of the elastic tube 221 is reduced to disengage from the fixing hole 13a to release the apex shim 13 from the force measuring device 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal end of the flexible tube 221 has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the proximal end.

In one embodiment, the distal circumferential wall of the elastic tube 221 is provided with a plurality of notches 2211, and the notches 2211 start from the end of the elastic tube 221 away from the push housing 210 and extend in the axial direction of the elastic tube 221. By providing the notch 2211, when the distal end of the elastic tube 221 is inserted into the fixing hole 13a, the hole wall of the fixing hole 13a presses the distal end of the elastic tube 221, so that the maximum outer diameter of the distal end of the elastic tube 221 is reduced. In one embodiment, the number of the gaps 2211 is 2-4, and a plurality of the gaps 2211 are uniformly distributed along the circumferential direction of the elastic tube 221.

Referring to fig. 4, the engaging member 220 further includes a pushing block 223, the pushing block 223 is slidably disposed on the pushing housing 210, the filling core 222 is fixedly disposed on the pushing block 223, and a distal end of the filling core 222 extends out of the pushing block 223. In an embodiment, a slide rail 211 is disposed on a side wall of the pushing housing 210, and the pushing block 223 is slidably disposed in the slide rail 223. When the pushing block 223 moves axially along the sliding rail 211, the filling core 222 is driven to move axially in the inner cavity of the elastic tube 221.

Referring to fig. 4, a spring 213 is further disposed in the pushing housing 210, and a pushing block 223 is connected to the spring. The spring 213 is disposed at a proximal end of the pusher housing 210, and a distal end of the pusher block 223 abuts a proximal end of the spring 213. In a natural state, the pushing block 223 is located at the distal end of the sliding rail 211, and the distal end of the filling core 222 is located at the distal end of the elastic tube 221, for example, the distal end of the filling core 222 is flush with the distal end of the elastic tube 221 or slightly exceeds the distal end of the elastic tube 221. Referring to fig. 6, when it is needed to connect with the apex cordis gasket 13, the pushing block 223 is moved to the proximal end along the sliding rail 211, the spring 213 is compressed, the distal end of the filling core 222 leaves the distal end of the elastic tube 221, the distal end of the elastic tube 221 is inserted into the fixing hole 13a of the apex cordis gasket 13, at this time, the pushing block 223 is released, under the action of the spring 213, the pushing block returns to the proximal end of the sliding rail 211, the distal end of the filling core 222 returns to the distal end of the elastic tube 221 to prop open the distal end of the elastic tube 221, and the distal end of the elastic tube 221 and the fixing hole 13a generate interference fit to fix the apex cordis gasket at the distal end of the elastic tube 221. When released, the pusher block 223 is pulled proximally, the distal end of the obturator 222 is again moved away from the distal end of the elastomeric tube 221, the distal diameter of the elastomeric tube 221 is reduced, and the retention hole 13a of the apex shim 13 is disengaged from the distal end of the elastomeric tube 221. The pushing assembly 200 can prevent the center point pad 13 from falling off from the force measuring device 10 during the conveying process, and can prevent the center point pad 13 from being incapable of being separated from the force measuring device 10 during the releasing process. In this embodiment, the spring 213 is located on the central axis of the push housing 210.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, in an embodiment, the apex shim 13 is provided with two fixing holes 13a and a central hole 13b for the tether 12 to pass through, and the two fixing holes 13a are symmetrically disposed on two sides of the central hole 13 b. The fixing hole 13a is a blind hole, and the center hole 13b is a through hole. The number of the elastic tubes 221 and the number of the filling cores 222 are also 2, and each elastic tube 221 is correspondingly connected with one fixing hole 13 a.

Referring to fig. 7 to 9, the force measuring assembly 300 includes an adjusting screw 310 and a tether adjusting member 320 slidably disposed in the adjusting screw 310, the tether 12 sequentially passes through the apex gasket 13, the pushing assembly 200, the housing 100 and the adjusting screw 310 and passes out of the tether adjusting member 320, a distal end of the adjusting screw 310 is movably disposed in the housing 100, the adjusting screw 310 moves proximally relative to the housing 100 to drive the tether adjusting member 320 to move proximally, and the tether 12 passing through the tether adjusting member 320 pulls the tether adjusting member 320 to move distally to adjust and measure the tension of the tether 12 passing through the tether adjusting member 320.

Referring to fig. 2, the outer side of the casing 100 is provided with anti-slip stripes for the operator to hold. In one embodiment, the inner wall of the housing 100 is provided with an internal thread 101, the distal end of the adjusting screw 310 is provided with an external thread 311 matching with the internal thread 101, and the adjusting screw 310 and the housing 100 are connected with the internal thread 301 through the external thread 311. When the adjustment screw 310 is rotated, the adjustment screw 310 moves proximally or distally relative to the housing 100.

The adjusting screw 310 is a hollow structure, and the tether adjusting member 320 is slidably disposed in the cavity of the adjusting screw 310. The adjusting screw 310 is further provided with an elastic member 313, and the tether adjusting member 320 is connected to the elastic member 313.

In one embodiment, the tether adjuster 320 includes a sliding shaft 321, a tether receiving tube 322 disposed inside the sliding shaft 321, and a tether locking member 323 disposed at a distal end of the sliding shaft 321. The sliding shaft 321 is sleeved on the tether receiving member 322, and the sliding shaft 321 and the tether receiving member 322 can slide axially. The tether 12 passes through the tether receiving tube 322, the sliding shaft 321, and finally out of the tether lock 323.

It should be noted that the proximal end of the tether receiving tube 322 may be flush with the sliding shaft 321, in which case the tether 12 need only be threaded through the tether receiving tube 322 and out the tether lock 323.

The proximal end of the sliding shaft 321 is slidably disposed in the adjusting screw 310, the distal end of the sliding shaft 321 is fixedly connected to the proximal end of the elastic element 313, and the elastic element 321 is sleeved on the tether accommodating tube 322. When the sliding shaft 321 is moved proximally, the elastic member 313 is compressed. The sliding shaft 321 is provided with a scale (not shown), and the relative position between the sliding shaft 321 and the adjusting screw 310 will display the tension value through the scale.

In one embodiment, the proximal end of the adjustment screw 310 is provided with a stop 314 to limit the distal end of the sliding shaft 321 within the adjustment screw 310. Specifically, the inner diameter of the proximal end of the adjustment screw 310 is smaller than the outer diameter of the distal end of the sliding shaft 321, and the distal end of the sliding shaft 321 cannot be disengaged from the proximal end of the adjustment screw 310, thereby preventing the sliding shaft 321 from being disengaged from the adjustment screw 310 during operation.

In one embodiment, the tether receiving tube 322 is a hollow tube for receiving the tether 12. The tether accommodating tube 322 penetrates the sliding shaft 313, the adjusting screw 310, and the housing 100, and extends to the pushing assembly 200, and the tether 12 penetrates the pushing assembly 200, the housing 100, and the adjusting screw 310 through the tether accommodating tube 322. In the present embodiment, the tether accommodating tube 322 may be a nickel titanium tube, a steel tube, another metal tube, or a non-metal tube such as plastic.

The tether lock 323 is used to clamp the tether 12. Referring to fig. 10 and 11, the tether locking member 323 includes a base 3231, a collet 3232 and a gland 3233, the base 3231 is connected to the distal end of the sliding shaft 321, the base 3231 is threadedly connected to the gland 3233, the collet 3232 is disposed between the base 3231 and the gland 3233, the base 3231, the collet 3232 and the gland 3233 are each provided with a through hole 3234 through which the tether 12 passes, the tether 12 passes through the through holes 3234 of the base 3231, the collet 3232 and the gland 3233, and when the gland 3233 is screwed into the base 3231, the inner diameter of the through hole 3234 of the collet 3232 is reduced to clamp the tether 12. Specifically, the base 3231 is provided with an external thread, the gland 3233 is a hollow structure, the inner side of the gland has an inclined surface, and the inner surface of the gland has an internal thread matched with the external thread of the base 3231. The clamp 3232 is tubular in configuration and has a slot in its circumferential wall such that tightening the gland 3233 and the base 3231 compresses the clamp 3232 between the gland 3233 and the base 3231 to reduce the inner diameter of the clamp 3232, thereby clamping the tether 12 to the clamp 3232.

Referring to fig. 8, in a natural state, the tether 12 passes through the tether accommodating tube 322 and the sliding shaft 313, and passes out through the tether locking member 323, so as to keep the tether 12 in a straightened state, and the length of the tether 12 is fixed by the tether locking member 323, at this time, the distal end of the adjusting screw 310 is located at a position near the distal end of the housing 100, the distal end of the sliding shaft 321 is located at a position near the proximal end of the adjusting screw 310, and the elastic member 313 is in a natural extension state. Referring to fig. 9, the adjusting screw 310 is rotated to move the adjusting screw 310 towards the proximal end of the housing 100, the movement of the adjusting screw 310 integrally drives the sliding shaft 321 and the tether locking member 323 connected to the adjusting screw 310 to move towards the proximal end, because the length of the tether 12 is fixed, the tether 12 pulls the sliding shaft 321 to move towards the distal end, so that the elastic member 313 is compressed, and the moving distance of the sliding shaft 321, i.e. the compressed length of the spring, is obtained according to hooke's law, thereby obtaining the tension value of the tether 12.

When in use, the tether 12 passes through the central hole 13b of the apex cordis pad 13, passes through the tether accommodating tube 322 and the sliding shaft 313 in sequence, and passes through the tether locking piece 323; withdrawing the push block 223, inserting the distal end of the spring tube 221 into the fixing hole 13a of the apex cordis gasket 13, releasing the push block 223 so as to fix the apex cordis gasket 13 on the spring tube 221, and conveying the apex cordis gasket 13 to a position close to the apex cordis; pulling the tether 12 to straighten the tether 12 proximally, i.e., without kinking or bending the tether 12, locking the length of the tether 12 with the tether lock 323; the adjusting screw 310 is rotated to move the adjusting screw 310 proximally relative to the housing 100 to move the sliding shaft 321 proximally, and the tether 12 pulls the sliding shaft 321 distally to compress the elastic member 313, and the force value of the tether 12 is displayed on the proximal end face of the adjusting screw 310 and points to the outside of the sliding shaft 321. When the adjusting screw 310 is rotated to bring the tether 12 to a suitable tension value, e.g. no paravalvular leakage under ultrasound examination, the tether 12 is secured to the apex pad 13 and the force measuring device 10 is removed. Of course, in an embodiment, after the tension value of the tether 12 is adjusted, the force measuring device 10 may be removed, and then the tether 12 may be fixed to the apex cordis pad 13.

Referring to fig. 12 to 14, a force measuring device 40 according to a second embodiment of the present application includes a handle assembly 400, a pushing assembly 500, and a force measuring assembly 600, wherein the pushing assembly 500 is located at a distal end of the handle assembly 400, and the force measuring assembly 600 is disposed on the handle assembly 400.

In one embodiment, the handle assembly 400 includes a housing 410 and a tether lock 420 disposed at an end of the housing 410 remote from the pusher assembly. The housing 410 includes an upper housing (not shown, symmetrically disposed with the upper housing 411) and a lower housing 411, and the upper housing and the lower housing 411 are fixedly connected by riveting. Tether lock 420 snaps onto the distal end of housing 410.

In one embodiment, the outer surface of the housing 410 is provided with ridges to facilitate gripping by an operator and to prevent slippage during use.

The tether lock 420 is used to clamp the tether 12. The specific structure of the tether locking member 420 can refer to the tether locking member 323 in the first embodiment, and is not described herein. In this embodiment, the base of the tether lock 420 snaps into the housing 410.

The push assembly 500 is adapted to releasably connect with the apex shim 13. The specific structure of the pushing assembly 500 can refer to the pushing assembly 200 in the first embodiment, and is not described herein again.

The force measuring assembly 600 is respectively arranged through the pushing assembly 500 and the handle assembly 400, the force measuring assembly 600 is provided with a tether channel 601 for the tether 12 to pass through, the tether 12 sequentially passes through the apex pad 13, the pushing assembly 500 and the tether channel 601 and passes out of the handle assembly 400, and the handle assembly 400 can axially move relative to the force measuring assembly 600 to adjust and measure the tension of the tether 12 extending through the tether channel 601 and the handle assembly 400.

It should be noted that the tether passageway 601 of the force measuring assembly 600 may extend to the distal end of the pushing assembly 500, and the tether 601 is threaded through the pushing assembly 500 through the tether passageway 601.

In one embodiment, the force measuring assembly 600 includes a fixing rod 610 and an elastic member 620 sleeved on the fixing rod 610. The fixing rod 610 is provided with a tether passage 601, the elastic member 620 is received in the housing 410, and the housing 410 is axially movable with respect to the fixing rod 610. In one embodiment, the fixing rod 610 is located on the central axis of the housing 410, the proximal end of the fixing rod 610 is received in the housing 410, and the elastic member 620 is located between the distal end of the housing 410 and the proximal end of the fixing rod 610.

The fixing rod 610 is fixedly connected with the pushing assembly 500. The securing rod 610 may extend to a distal end of the pushing assembly 500. The securing rod 610 is a hollow tubular structure and the lumen is a tether passageway 601 through which the tether 12 passes. The fixation rod 610 may include a metal tube extending to the end of the pusher assembly 500 and a plastic tube wrapped around the metal tube, which may extend only to be fixedly connected to the proximal end of the pusher assembly 500.

Referring to fig. 13 and 14, the inner wall of the housing 410 is provided with a plurality of grooves 413 disposed in parallel, the fixing rod 610 is provided with a stopper 613, the elastic element 620 is located between the distal end of the stopper 613 and the distal end of the housing 410, the stopper 613 can rotate relative to the housing 410, when the stopper 613 rotates to be engaged in the grooves 413, the position of the housing 410 relative to the fixing rod 610 is fixed, that is, the housing 410 cannot move axially relative to the fixing rod 610. Specifically, the stopper 613 is a protrusion protruding from the surface of the fixing rod 610, and the protrusion matches with the groove 413. Referring to fig. 13, when the protrusion is in a horizontal state, i.e., the protrusion is 90 ° to the depth of the groove 413, the housing 410 can move axially relative to the fixing rod 610. Referring to fig. 14, the fixing rod 610 is rotated 90 °, the protrusion is engaged with the groove 413, and the housing 410 and the fixing rod 610 do not move axially.

In one embodiment, the outer surface of the fixing rod 610 is provided with a scale (not shown) for displaying the tension value of the tether 12.

When in use, the tether 12 passes through the central hole 13b of the apex cordis pad 13, then passes through the tether passage 601 and the housing 410 in sequence, and passes through the tether locking piece 420; fixing the apex shim 13 to the pushing assembly 500 (for the specific process, refer to the process of fixing the apex shim to the elastic tube in the first embodiment), and delivering the apex shim 13 to a position close to the apex; pulling the tether 12 to cause the tether 12 to straighten proximally, i.e., the tether 12 is not bent or bent, locking the length of the tether 12 via the tether lock 420; the housing 410 is moved proximally while the elastic member 620 is compressed, and when the housing 410 is moved to a suitable tension value of the tether 12, for example, no paravalvular leakage occurs under ultrasonic examination, the housing 410 is rotated 90 ° with respect to the fixing rod 610 until the stopper 613 is engaged in the groove 413, and the force value of the tether 12 is displayed at a value directed outside the fixing rod 610 at the distal end face of the housing 410. The tether 12 is secured to the apex pad 13 and the force measuring device 40 is removed. Of course, in an embodiment, after the tension value of the tether 12 is adjusted, the force measuring device 40 may be removed, and the tether 12 may be fixed to the apex cordis pad 13.

Referring to fig. 15 to 18, the force measuring device 70 of the third embodiment of the present application includes a handle assembly 700, a pushing assembly 800, a tether securing assembly 900 and a force measuring assembly 1000, wherein the pushing assembly 800 is located at a distal end of the handle assembly 700, and the tether securing assembly 900 and the force measuring assembly 1000 are disposed at a proximal end of the handle assembly 700.

In one embodiment, the handle assembly 700 includes a housing 710 and a knob 720 rotatably disposed on the housing 710. Specifically, the housing 710 is provided with a receiving groove 711, the knob 720 is received in the receiving groove 711, and the knob 720 can rotate in the receiving groove 711. The outside of knob 720 is provided with anti-skidding line.

The pusher assembly 800 is adapted to releasably connect with the apex shim 13. The specific structure of the pushing assembly 800 can refer to the pushing assembly 200 in the first embodiment, and is not described herein again.

The tether securing assembly 900 is used to clamp the tether 12. Referring to fig. 16 to 18, the tether fixing assembly 900 includes a fixing base 910, a pressing block 920 and a pressing rod 930, the fixing base 910 is disposed in the handle assembly 700, the tether 12 passes through the fixing base 910, the pressing block 920 is fixedly connected to the pressing rod 930, the pressing rod 930 is movably connected to the fixing base 910, and the pressing rod 930 drives the pressing block 920 to move toward the fixing base 910 to clamp the tether 12 passing through the fixing base 910.

In one embodiment, the fixing base 910 is provided with a through slot for the tether 12 to pass through, the through slot is located on the central axis of the fixing base 910, the upper portion of the through slot is square, and the bottom of the through slot is semi-circular arc. Briquetting 920 slides and sets up in the lateral wall that leads to the groove, and with the lateral wall contact that leads to the groove, the bottom of briquetting 920 matches with the shape of the bottom that leads to the groove. When the pressing block 920 moves to the bottom in the through slot of the fixing base 910, the pressing block 920 and the fixing base are completely matched, and by such a structure, the tether 12 can be locked on the fixing base 910. The bottom of logical groove is the design of half circular arc, can make briquetting 920 in the in-process that moves down, and tether 12 is last to be pushed to the bottom of logical groove, reduces the gap of tether 12 with the bottom of logical groove, avoids tether 12 to be removed after fixed.

The top of the fixing base 910 is provided with a threaded hole, the pressure lever 930 is provided with a threaded structure matched with the threaded hole, and the pressure lever 930 is inserted into the threaded hole and is in threaded connection with the threaded hole of the fixing base 910. The bottom of the pressing rod 930 is fixedly connected to the pressing block 920, and when the pressing rod 930 is rotated, the pressing block 920 moves towards or away from the fixing base 910, thereby locking or unlocking the tether 12.

In one embodiment, the tether securing assembly 900 further includes an extension tube 940 disposed at the proximal end of the anchor block 910, the extension tube 940 being configured to guide the tether 12 outside of the handle assembly 100. One end of the extension pipe 940 is communicated with the through groove, and the other end thereof extends out of the handle assembly 700. In the illustrated embodiment, the extension pipe 940 is a circular arc shaped pipe.

The load cell assembly 1000 includes a screw shaft 1010 and a load cell 1020 disposed at a proximal end of the screw shaft 1010. The distal end of the screw shaft 1010 is connected to the pushing assembly 800, the proximal end of the screw shaft 1010 is slidably disposed on the handle assembly 700, and the screw shaft 1010 is disposed with a tether passageway 1011 for the tether 12 to pass through. A load cell 1020 is disposed within the handle assembly 700, the load cell 1020 being coupled to the tether securing assembly 900. The handle assembly 700 is axially movable relative to the screw axis 1010 to adjust the tension of the tether 12 passing through the tether passageway 1011 of the screw axis 1010, and the load cell 1020 is used to determine the tension of the tether.

In one embodiment, the screw shaft 1010 is slidably disposed in the housing 710. Specifically, a sliding slot 712 is disposed in the housing 710, and a protrusion 1012 is disposed at a proximal end of the spiral shaft 1010, the protrusion 1012 being slidably disposed in the sliding slot 712. In the illustrated embodiment, two parallel slide slots 712 are provided in the housing 710, and two protrusions 1012 are provided on the proximal end of the helical shaft 1010, the two protrusions 1012 axially sliding in the two parallel slide slots 712, respectively. The length of the runner 712 may be 10cm and the distance that the protrusion 1012 may slide within the runner 712 may be 0-10 cm.

In one embodiment, the screw shaft 1010 is located on the central axis of the handle assembly 700. The distal end of the screw shaft 1010 is fixedly connected to the pushing assembly 800. Specifically, the screw shaft 1010 is connected to the pushing assembly 800 by anchoring. The screw shaft 1010 has a hollow cavity that is a tether passageway 1011 for the tether 12 to pass through. The screw shaft 1010 has an external thread 1014 on the outside thereof, and the knob 720 has a matching internal thread (not shown) on the inside thereof, and the screw shaft 1010 and the knob 720 are connected to the internal thread through the external thread 1014. When the knob 720 is rotated, the screw shaft 1010 may be axially moved.

The load cell 1020 is fixedly disposed within the housing 710. The load cell 1020 is fixedly attached to the tether securing assembly 900. In one embodiment, the load cell 1020 is fixedly coupled to the mounting block 910. The load cell 1020 is further connected with a connecting wire 1021, one end of the connecting wire 1021, which is far away from the load cell 1020, extends out of the housing 710, and the connecting wire 1021 is used for connecting an external display. The structure of the load cell 70 can be found in the prior art and will not be described in detail.

In use, the tether 12 passes through the central hole 13b of the apex pad 13, then passes through the tether passage 1011, the housing 710, and passes out through the tether securing assembly 900; fixing the apex shim 13 to the pushing assembly 800 (for example, refer to the process of fixing the apex shim to the elastic tube in the first embodiment), and transporting the apex shim 13 to a position close to the apex; pulling the tether 12 to cause the tether 12 to straighten proximally, i.e., without kinking or bending the tether 12, locking the length of the tether 12 with the tether securing assembly 900; rotating the knob 720 to move the housing 710 relative to the screw axis 1010, the tension value of the tether 12 is adjusted, and the force value of the tether 12 can be measured by the load cell; when the housing 710 is moved to a level that allows the tether 12 to reach a suitable tension level, such as no paravalvular leaks under ultrasound examination, the tether 12 is secured to the apex shim 13 and the force measuring device 70 is removed. Of course, in one embodiment, after the tension value of the tether 12 is adjusted, the force measuring device 70 may be removed, and the tether 12 may be fixed to the apex cordis pad 13.

The technical features of the embodiments described above may be arbitrarily combined, and for the sake of brevity, all possible combinations of the technical features in the embodiments described above are not described, but should be considered as being within the scope of the present specification as long as there is no contradiction between the combinations of the technical features.

The above-mentioned embodiments only express several embodiments of the present invention, and the description thereof is more specific and detailed, but not construed as limiting the scope of the invention. It should be noted that, for a person skilled in the art, several variations and modifications can be made without departing from the inventive concept, which falls within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present patent shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A force measuring device, comprising:

a handle assembly;

the force measuring assembly comprises a screw shaft and a force measuring sensor arranged at the near end of the screw shaft, the far end of the screw shaft is connected with the pushing assembly, the near end of the screw shaft is arranged in the handle assembly in a sliding mode, a tether channel used for a tether to penetrate through is arranged in the screw shaft, the tether penetrates through the apex cordis gasket, the pushing assembly and the tether channel in sequence and then penetrates out of the tether fixing piece, the force measuring sensor is arranged in the handle assembly and connected with the tether fixing assembly, the handle assembly can move axially relative to the screw shaft to adjust the tension of the tether penetrating through the tether channel of the screw shaft, and the force measuring sensor is used for measuring the tension of the tether.

2. The force measuring device of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly comprises a housing, the screw shaft is slidably disposed within the housing, a slide slot is disposed within the housing, and a protrusion is disposed on a proximal end of the screw shaft, the protrusion being slidably disposed within the slide slot.

3. The force measuring device of claim 2, wherein the handle assembly further comprises a knob rotatably disposed on the housing, the screw shaft is disposed through the knob, and the screw shaft is rotatably coupled to the knob via a thread.

4. The force measuring device of claim 3, wherein the housing defines a receiving slot, and wherein the knob is received in the receiving slot.

5. The force measuring device of claim 1, wherein the tether securing assembly comprises a securing base, a pressing block and a pressing rod, the securing base is disposed in the handle assembly, the tether passes through the securing base, the pressing block is fixedly connected with the pressing rod, the pressing rod is movably connected with the securing base, and the pressing rod drives the pressing block to move towards the securing base so as to clamp the tether passing through the securing base.

6. The force measuring device of claim 5, wherein the fixing base is provided with a through slot for the tether to pass through, the pressure block is slidably disposed on a side wall of the through slot, and a bottom of the pressure block matches a shape of a bottom of the through slot.

7. The force measuring device of claim 6, wherein the bottom of the channel is semi-circular.

8. The force measuring device of claim 6, wherein the tether securing assembly further comprises an extension tube disposed at the proximal end of the fixing base, one end of the extension tube being in communication with the through slot, the other end of the extension tube extending out of the handle assembly.

9. The force measuring device of claim 1, wherein the load cell is further connected to a connecting wire, and an end of the connecting wire remote from the load cell is adapted to be connected to an external display.

10. The force measuring device of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the screw shaft is fixedly connected to the pushing assembly by riveting.