Ex Situ Heart Perfusion Afterload Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ex situ heart perfusion methods fail to simulate the physiological afterload conditions necessary for accurate heart function evaluation and perfusion quality due to the absence of resistance in the perfusion system, which differs significantly from in vivo conditions.
Innovation Solution
An afterload device comprising a flexible container within a rigid hermetic container filled with compressible media, connected to pressure regulation valves and flow rate regulators, simulates the physiological pressure range by maintaining pressure between diastolic and systolic levels, providing resistance to the perfusion fluid similar to the cardiovascular system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reverse perfusion through aortic cannula is used, then the heart can be perfused ex situ, but the measured cardiac function parameters and pressure waveform differ significantly from in vivo conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional reverse perfusion approach by implementing forward perfusion through the aortic valve, allowing perfusion fluid to flow in the natural physiological direction through the coronary arteries, thereby simultaneously achieving reliable heart function evaluation and physiological simulation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the perfusion parameters by introducing an adjustable afterload device that can modify the resistance characteristics of the perfusion system, enabling the perfusion pressure and flow characteristics to match in vivo physiological conditions, thus improving both measurement accuracy and physiological adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If no afterload resistance is provided in the perfusion system, then the perfusion system is simple, but the heart function measurement does not reflect actual physiological conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an afterload device as an intermediary component between the perfusion pump and the heart, which provides adjustable resistance to simulate arterial system afterload. This mediator enables physiological condition simulation without requiring complete redesign of the entire perfusion system, thus achieving physiological adaptability with controlled complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The afterload device incorporates adjustable resistance mechanisms that can dynamically modify the afterload characteristics during perfusion, allowing the system to adapt to different physiological states and experimental requirements while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device ensures that the perfusion pressure remains within physiological limits, enhancing the accuracy of heart function evaluation and perfusion quality by mimicking the natural resistance encountered by blood in the body, thereby improving the assessment of cardiac parameters.
Implementation Method 1
a rigid hermetic container filled with compressible media... maintaining pressure between diastolic and systolic levels, providing resistance to the perfusion fluid
Implementation Method 2
the pressure regulation module includes two pressure regulation valves and a compressible-medium source, where the two pressure regulation valves are in communication with the rigid hermetic container
Implementation Method 3
connected to the two flow rate regulators via a conduit... the two flow rate regulators located outside the rigid hermetic container are respectively installed on an inlet conduit and an outflow conduit
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an afterload device for ex situ heart perfusion, which includes an afterload energy storage module, a pressure regulation module and two flow rate regulators that are connected through a conduit. The afterload energy storage module includes a rigid closed container and a flexible container. The perfusion fluid flows into the flexible container from one side thereof through the conduit, and the perfusion fluid flows out from the flexible container at another side thereof as the flexible container is subjected to the action of the medium pressure in the rigid hermetic container. The pressure regulation module includes two pressure regulation valves and a compressible-medium source, for regulating the pressure range within the rigid hermetic container to be always maintained between the set diastolic pressure and the set systolic pressure.