Adjustable Interatrial Shunt Lumen for Adaptive Blood Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing percutaneous shunt devices for treating heart failure have a fixed diameter that fails to account for a patient's changing physiology, often leading to a diminishing clinical effect over time, and lack the ability to adjust sizing based on individual patient conditions.
Innovation Solution
An implantable interatrial shunt system with an adjustable lumen geometry, powered by an energy receiving and storage component, and equipped with sensors and a flow control mechanism to dynamically adjust blood flow based on patient-specific conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed diameter shunt device is used, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the device cannot adapt to patient's changing physiology leading to diminishing clinical effect
Solution Approach 1:
The shunt device incorporates an adjustable lumen geometry that can be dynamically modified after implantation. The lumen diameter and shape can be changed using actuators (such as balloons or mechanical expansion mechanisms) that allow the device to adapt to the patient's changing physiological conditions over time, resolving the contradiction between fixed structure and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables changes in the lumen parameters (diameter, cross-sectional area, shape) through controlled expansion or contraction mechanisms. This allows the shunt to adjust its flow characteristics in response to changing patient needs, providing adaptability without requiring a completely different device design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single size shunt device is used, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the device cannot meet individual patient conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The shunt device is designed as a universal platform that can be adjusted to multiple sizes and configurations. Instead of manufacturing different fixed-size devices, a single base design with adjustable lumen geometry can serve multiple patient needs, combining ease of manufacture with customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable lumen geometry allows a single manufactured device to provide multiple effective sizes through post-implantation modification. This dynamic adjustment capability eliminates the need to manufacture multiple fixed-size variants while still providing individualized treatment options.
3Reliability
If the shunt size is increased to improve decompression effect, then the therapeutic benefit increases, but the risk of complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable lumen geometry allows the shunt size to be optimized dynamically. The lumen can be expanded to provide adequate decompression when needed, then adjusted to a smaller size once therapeutic goals are achieved, or modulated in between based on patient response. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the device to provide high therapeutic effectiveness when necessary while minimizing complication risks through controlled size adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates sensors that monitor physiological parameters (such as pressure gradients, flow rates, or cardiac function) and provide feedback to control the lumen adjustment. This closed-loop system automatically optimizes the shunt size to achieve therapeutic effectiveness while avoiding excessive decompression that could lead to complications, resolving the contradiction between efficacy and safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present technology relates to interatrial shunting systems and methods. In some embodiments, the present technology includes interatrial shunting systems that include a shunting element having a lumen extending therethrough that is configured to fluidly couple the left atrium and the right atrium when the shunting element is implanted in a patient. The system can also include an energy receiving component for receiving energy from an energy source positioned external to the body, an energy storage component for storing the received energy, and/or a flow control mechanism for adjusting a geometry of the lumen.