Descending Aorta Circulatory Support with Contra-Rotating Propellers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mechanical circulatory support devices (MCS) for congestive heart failure (CHF) often require invasive surgery, disrupt normal heart function, and cause blood damage due to inefficient flow patterns and high power requirements, leading to complications such as haemolysis and thrombosis.

Innovation Solution

A mechanical circulatory support device that operates in series with the native heart, using a centrifugal or mixed flow pump installed minimally invasively in the descending aorta, reducing disruption and blood damage by minimizing unnecessary shear stress and power input, and allowing the heart to pump more efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ventricular assist devices are used to assist the ventricle, then cardiac output is improved, but the heart is disrupted and cannot pump to its best capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecardiac outputVSAvoidheart function

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an artificial aorta as an intermediary component between the ventricular assist device and the native aorta. This artificial aorta receives blood from the LVAD and delivers it to the native aorta, allowing the LVAD to operate in parallel without directly disrupting native heart function. The intermediary structure enables the heart to pump to its best capacity while still achieving the desired cardiac output support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If existing MCS devices are used, then blood flow is improved, but blood damage occurs due to inefficient flow patterns and high power requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flowVSAvoidblood damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the artificial aorta's geometric parameters including diameter, length, curvature radius, and cross-sectional shape to minimize flow disturbances. By carefully selecting these parameters, the device reduces flow separation, turbulence, and shear stress on blood cells, thereby minimizing haemolysis and thrombosis while maintaining efficient blood flow delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The artificial aorta is designed with a curved configuration rather than a straight tube, mimicking the natural aortic arch. This curvature helps guide blood flow smoothly around the device, reducing flow separation and turbulence that would otherwise cause blood damage. The curved design optimizes flow patterns while delivering blood from the LVAD to the native aorta.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If invasive surgery is performed for device installation, then device functionality is achieved, but surgical risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidsurgical risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the implant system into separate components: the LVAD, the artificial aorta, and the native aorta connection. This segmentation allows for modular implantation where the artificial aorta can be installed as a separate graft between the LVAD and native aorta, reducing the complexity and risk of a single invasive procedure while ensuring proper device functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces the risk of invasive surgery, minimizes blood damage, and enhances heart function by providing efficient blood flow with lower power requirements, making it suitable for earlier stages of CHF and promoting heart muscle regeneration.

Implementation Method 1

using a centrifugal or mixed flow pump installed minimally invasively in the descending aorta

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS11524153B2Mechanical circulatory support device with axial flow turbomachine optimized for heart failure and cardio-renal syndrome by implantation in the descending aorta

Publication Date: 2022.12.13 QUEEN MARY UNIV OF LONDON

AI summary

Mechanical circulatory supports configured to operate in series with the native heart are disclosed. In an embodiment, an intravascular propeller is installed into the descending aorta and anchored within via an expandable anchoring mechanism. The propeller and anchoring mechanism may be foldable so as to be percutaneously deliverable to the aorta. The propeller may have foldable blades. The blades may be magnetic and may be driven by a concentric electromagnetic stator circumferentially outside the magnetic blades. The stator may be intravascular or may be configured to be installed around the outer circumference of the blood vessel. The support may create a pressure rise between about 20-50 mmHg, and maintain a flow rate of about 5 L/min. The support may have one or more pairs of contra-rotating propellers to modulate the tangential velocity of the blood flow. The support may have static pre-swirlers and or de-swirlers. The support may be optimized to replicate naturally occurring vortex formation within the descending aorta.