Long-Term Storage for Prosthetic Heart Valves
Prosthetic heart valves require precise handling and preservation throughout their journey from manufacture to implantation. These devices must maintain sterility while stored in preservation solutions at specific temperatures, withstand transportation forces, and arrive in operating rooms ready for immediate use. Current data shows that even minor deviations in storage conditions can affect tissue integrity and valve functionality.
The fundamental challenge lies in creating packaging systems that simultaneously preserve biological tissues, maintain sterility, protect mechanical components, and enable rapid preparation for surgical use.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including advanced sealing mechanisms for wet-stored valves, contamination-prevention systems using ethylene oxide conversion, pre-crimping technologies for transcatheter valves, and sterilization approaches using electron beam radiation. These and other approaches focus on maintaining valve integrity while simplifying the preparation process in surgical settings.
1. LED-Based Steering Angle Indicator Using VL53L0X Sensor for Enhanced Road Safety
s ramkumar, 2025
This paper presents a cost-effective and innovative method for determining visually communicating vehicle's steering angle using VL53L0X distance sensor microcontroller-controlled LED array. The system replaces conventional sensors, offering scalable solution aimed at reducing road accidents due to uncommunicated vehicle turns. number of LEDs activated is directly proportional the angle, providing real-time visual cue trailing drivers. approach promotes enhanced safety while maintaining affordability ease integration.
2. LED Lens with Cylindrical Entry and Compound Parabolic Concentrator for Color Mixing and Glare Reduction
LUTRON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC, 2025
LED lens for improved color mixing and glare reduction. The lens has a cylindrical entry with a tapered sidewall and diffusion treatment near the LEDs. This collimates some light while mixing colors. The outer region has a straight sidewall and no diffusion. It diffuses and scatters light as it exits the lens. This surrounds the collimated inner light to give better mixed output. The lens shape is a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) with a concave exit. This concentrates light from the side while spreading it from the center. The CPC also helps reduce glare by internally reflecting light back into the lens. The lens can be used in LED lighting applications to improve color rendering and reduce glare compared to conventional collimating lenses.
3. Vehicle Headlight and Window System with Synchronized Flickering and Shuttering Mechanism
ADEIA GUIDES INC, 2025
Reducing glare for vehicle occupants caused by headlights of oncoming vehicles by coordinating the flickering of headlights and shuttering of windows between vehicles. When multiple vehicles receive a common signal, they derive a synchronized clock signal based on it. Vehicles then alternate between high and low window transparency and headlight intensity according to the clock. This allows vehicles to use high intensity headlights while reducing glare for occupants of opposing vehicles by coordinated flickering.
4. Design and Implementation of a Vehicular Visible Light Communication System Using LED Lamps for Driving Dynamics Data Exchange in Tunnels
yongtaek woo, yeongho park, hyunkwang lim - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2025
This study presents the design and implementation of a vehicular visible light communication (VLC) system that establishes an expandable VLC-based chain network within tunnel environments to facilitate exchange driving dynamics data, such as target speed acceleration, between consecutive vehicles. The primary aim proposed is improve road safety by reducing risk collisions hard braking events, particularly in tunnels, where limited visibility absence global positioning signals hinder drivers ability accurately assess conditions. A key feature its adaptive beam alignment mechanism, which dynamically adjusts orientation light-emitting diode (LED) module on transmitting vehicle based rhw wheel angle data estimated inertial measurement unit sensor. adjustment ensures continuous reliable link with surrounding vehicles, even when navigating curves tunnel. Additionally, can be integrated into actual vehicles minimal modification utilizing built-in lighting (i.e., LED taillights), offering cost-effective scalable solution achieve objective.
5. Vehicle Lighting System with Dual Laser Sources and Scanning Mirrors for Phosphor Plate Illumination
STANLEY ELECTRIC CO LTD, 2025
A vehicle lighting system that improves headlight brightness and reduces glare by using lasers and scanning mirrors. The system has two laser sources, two scanning mirrors, and a shared phosphor plate. The lasers are scanned and converge at the phosphor plate. This allows longer optical paths through the brightness correction lenses to improve brightness. The lasers intersect at the phosphor plate with one hitting the lower region and the other hitting the upper region. This distributes the lasers over more of the phosphor plate for better brightness correction.
6. Robust optical design of high-contrast vehicle headlamps with cylindrical lens array and inverted triangular beam pattern
chishou wu, ivan moreno, c s c liu - Nature Portfolio, 2025
Headlamps are essential for safe night driving, as they must provide sufficient brightness to illuminate the road while minimizing glare other drivers. Designing low-beam optics is more complex than general lighting due need a high-contrast cutoff line, with brightest point positioned near its edge. This challenge becomes even greater when working compact optical systems. In this paper, we propose robust design address issue effectively. We develop bicycle headlamps using cylindrical lens array (CLA) combined reflective create specialized light pattern. The CLA spreads pattern horizontally form line; however, alone does not ensure optimal performance. To overcome limitation, introduce novel principle: generated by reflector, before passing through CLA, should be inverse-triangular or trapezoidal. approach enables shift upward and closer solving key in previous designs.
7. Adaptive Freeform Optics Design and Multi-Objective Genetic Optimization for Energy-Efficient Automotive LED Headlights
shaohui xu, xing peng, ci song - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2025
In addressing the design imperatives of automotive headlight miniaturization and energy conservation, this paper puts forth a methodology for vehicle lighting systems that is predicated on free surface optics an intelligent optimization algorithm. The establishment mapping relationship between light source target relevant performance standards. numerical calculation then integrated with MATLAB R2022a to obtain free-form coordinate points establish three-dimensional model. To optimize parameter design, genetic algorithm employed fine-tune max, thereby attaining optimal max strikes balance volume luminous efficiency. experimental results demonstrate by integrating incidence angle into high beam low beam, final simulation show optical efficiency 88.89%, 89.40%. This enables headlamp system achieve lamp framework proposed in study provides reference compact system.
8. Vehicle Lamp with Concave Mirror and Concealed Lower Mirror Portion for Scattered Light Reduction
MURAKAMI CORP, 2025
Vehicle lamp design that reduces the visibility of scattered light from the lamp to prevent glare for pedestrians and drivers. The lamp projects light onto the ground beside the vehicle using an optical system with a concave mirror. The mirror position is set so that the lower part of the mirror is higher than the window. This hides the lower part of the mirror from view when the lamp is mounted on the vehicle. This prevents scattered light from the mirror being seen. The upper part of the mirror reflects the light downward through the window. This reduces the chance of scattered light from the mirror being visible to people around the vehicle.
9. Light Emitting Module with Angled Wavelength Converters and Narrow Spacing for Headlamp Applications
SEOUL SEMICONDUCTOR CO LTD, 2025
Light emitting module for headlamps with reduced glare and improved dark zone control in adaptive driving beam (ADB) systems. The module uses wavelength converters on top of the LED chips with angled sidewalls of 80 degrees or less. The converters have narrow spacing, 100 microns or less, and their edges have low luminance. A white wall surrounds the LEDs and converters. This configuration prevents light leakage between converters and reduces glare compared to flat converter edges. It allows precise dark zone control for ADB headlamps without excessive light emission.
10. LED Headlight Retrofit Lamp with Dual-Sided LEDs and Distinct Color Temperature Emission
LUMILEDS LLC, 2025
LED headlight retrofit lamp that reduces glare and improves visibility compared to conventional LED headlights. The lamp has two LEDs, one on each side, with different color temperatures. The higher temperature LED emits light towards oncoming traffic while the lower temperature LED illuminates the road. This separates glare from high temp light for oncoming drivers and better visibility from lower temp light for the driver's own use.
11. Sealed Dry Packaging System with Compressive Container and Single-Handed Lid for Medical Devices
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP, 2024
Dry packaging for medical devices like bioprosthetic heart valves that eliminates the need for sterilant solutions like glutaraldehyde. The packaging uses a sealed container with a removable lid that allows hydration of the valve before implantation. The container walls compress the valve to retain it. The lid can have features to facilitate single-handed opening. The valve is dry-packed to reduce calcification risks compared to wet storage. The container shape inhibits valve movement. The lid can have indicia to identify valve size. The container can nest in a tray for shipping.
12. Packaging and Biasing System for Dry Storage of Prosthetic Heart Valves with Leaflet Configuration Stabilization
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP, 2023
Packaging and biasing method for dry storage of prosthetic heart valves to prevent leaflet deformation during shipping and sterilization. The method involves shaping the valve leaflets into a desired configuration before dehydration and sterilization. The valve is inserted into a packaging component with biasing elements that secure the leaflets. This prevents leaflet collapse during drying and sterilization. The dry packaged valve can be stored and shipped without fluid.
13. Dual-Container Storage Assembly with Ethylene Oxide Gas Sterilization and Conversion System for Medical Implants
Medtronic, Inc., 2023
Storage assembly for sterilizing medical devices like heart valves using ethylene oxide gas without damaging the implant. The assembly has an inner container with the implant in sterilization fluid, sealed to the delivery device. An outer container around the inner one contains water. Sterilizing with ethylene oxide gas allows it to breach the inner seal. If any gas escapes, it contacts the water and converts to less damaging ethylene glycol and ethylene chlorohydrin. Activated carbon in the outer container absorbs any residual glycol/chlorohydrin.
14. Nested Packaging System with Clamping and Positioning Features for Artificial Heart Valves
JILIN QIMING HAOYUE BIOTECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2023
A packaging system for artificial heart valves that provides stable and safe storage and transportation of the valves. The system consists of multiple nested boxes with positioning features that prevent movement of the valve during handling. The innermost box has a clamping device with a groove to hold the valve in place. The outer box fits over the innermost box and secures the valve inside. This two-box system with clamping and positioning features ensures the valve stays stable during shipping and prevents damage from impact or movement.
15. Sterile Barrier Packaging System with Non-Threaded Peelable Lids for Prosthetic Heart Valves
MEDTRONIC INC, 2022
Sterile barrier packaging systems for solution-sterilized prosthetic heart valves that provide easier access and improved protection compared to conventional glass jar packaging. The systems involve using containers with lids that don't require threaded connections. The lids can be peeled off or easily opened to access the valve, unlike threaded lids that can be difficult to remove. The lids can be thin foil or film sealed to the container. This allows consistent, easy opening by end users compared to threaded jars. The packaging also provides better thermal and physical protection compared to secondary packaging around glass jars. The valves can be stored and shipped in these containers without additional secondary packaging.
16. Storage Jar Assembly with Lid-Attached Valve Compression and Release Mechanism for Prosthetic Heart Valves
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP, 2022
Storage jar assembly for prosthetic heart valves that allows safe shipping, storage, and handling of the valves while preventing damage. The assembly has a jar with a lid that secures the valve in a partially compressed state. The lid has features to attach to the valve and release it. This prevents valve contact with jar walls during shipping. The compressed state allows smaller jars. The jar can also have a holder inside to compress the valve. The lid release mechanism detaches the valve for removal.
17. Packaging and Sterilization System with Dual Seal Mechanism for Wet-Stored Prosthetic Heart Valves on Delivery Devices
Medtronic Vascular, Inc., 2022
Packaging and sterilizing technique for "wet" stored prosthetic heart valves that are preloaded onto a portion of a delivery device. The valve is placed in a sealed container filled with sterilization fluid like glutaraldehyde. The container has seals at two positions along the delivery device. The valve is sterilized with the first seal in place, then the first seal is removed and a second seal formed further down the device. This allows separate sterilization processes for the valve and proximal delivery device area. The seals can be formed by the same or different components. After sterilization, the second seal is removed for final sterilization of the entire assembly.
18. Dry Tissue Heart Valve Packaging with Gas-Permeable and Gas-Impermeable Sealed Containers and Telescopic Delivery Handles
EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP, 2021
Packaging of dry tissue heart valves and their delivery systems for sterile storage and delivery. The packaging uses a primary container with a gas-permeable seal and a secondary container with a gas-impermeable seal. The dry valve and delivery system are sealed in the primary container. The primary container is then placed in the secondary container. The gas-permeable seal allows gas exchange while preventing contamination. The sealed containers are sterilized using gas sterilization. This avoids preservation fluids like glutaraldehyde. The dry valves can be expanded and delivered using retractable handles with telescopic sections. The gas-permeable packaging allows expansion without breaking the seal. The retractable handles provide compact storage and easy expansion in the body.
19. Sealed Container System for Hydrated Storage and Delivery of Biologically Derived Heart Valve
Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., 2020
Sealed system for delivering a replacement heart valve that allows biologically derived valves to be stored and shipped in a sterile environment without dehydration. The system consists of the valve, delivery catheter, and installation elements enclosed in a sterile container filled with fluid. This keeps the valve hydrated during storage and shipping. The container has caps, a catheter ferrule, and a radiopaque sleeve to seal and connect to the catheter.
20. Sterile Packaging System with Double Barrier and Suspension Tray for Dry Prosthetic Heart Valves
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, 2020
Packaging for sterile storage of dry prosthetic heart valves that is lighter and less bulky than current liquid-filled packaging. The packaging uses a double sterile barrier to protect the dry tissue implant during sterilization, transit, and storage. The inner barrier is a tray with a lid that suspends and secures the valve. The outer barrier is a secondary container that holds the tray and is sealed for gas sterilization. Then the outer container is sealed with an impermeable barrier to prevent oxidation.
Effective storage and packaging are vital for the functionality and safety of prosthetic heart valves. Innovations like preloaded systems, advanced sterilization methods, and durable materials enhance the reliability and ease of handling these life-saving devices. As technology continues to evolve, these solutions will further streamline implantation procedures and ensure better outcomes for patients.
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