Soft-Flow Aortic Cannula Tip for Emboli Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aortic cannula tips face a challenge in achieving a balance between minimizing trauma to the aorta while maintaining sufficient blood flow during cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries, as smaller tips result in higher exit velocities that can damage blood cells and dislodge atheromatous or thrombotic material, leading to potential emboli.
Innovation Solution
The aortic cannula tip features a plurality of exit openings with specific relief angles that disperse exit velocity, creating a flame-shaped flow pattern with lower average velocities by distributing fluid through a central and side openings, and omits top surface openings to accommodate a filter, preventing emboli dislodgment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the tip size is reduced to minimize trauma, then the profile is smaller, but the exit velocity increases damaging blood cells
Solution Approach 1:
The single exit opening is segmented into multiple openings (first opening on the side surface, second opening on the top surface) that distribute the blood flow into separate streams. This segmentation allows each individual stream to have lower velocity while collectively maintaining sufficient total flow, resolving the contradiction between small tip size and high exit velocity.
2Productivity
If high velocity is used to maintain flow rate, then perfusion is adequate, but trauma to the aorta increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blood flow is divided into multiple separate streams through different openings, with each stream contributing to the total perfusion. The velocity of individual streams is reduced compared to a single opening design, thereby reducing trauma to the aortic wall while maintaining adequate overall flow rate for perfusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The openings are positioned at different locations and orientations (side surface and top surface) to create flow streams that exit in different directions. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions allows the blood to be delivered effectively while reducing the concentrated velocity impact on any single point of the aorta.
3Ease of operation
If exit openings are placed on the top surface, then flow distribution is improved, but emboli can be dislodged from the filter
Solution Approach 1:
The top surface opening is positioned at a specific location that is spatially separated from the filter component. This local placement strategy allows the opening to benefit from improved flow distribution while avoiding the harmful effect of dislodging emboli from the filter, as the blood stream does not pass proximate to the filter.
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
This configuration results in a soft, non-traumatic blood stream that reduces the risk of emboli and maintains effective blood flow, suitable for use with intraaortic filtration systems, ensuring both reduced trauma and adequate perfusion.
Implementation Method 1
The openings are constructed and arranged to create specific relief angles that disrupt the flow pattern and soften the peak velocity force of the blood as it exits the cannula tip
Implementation Method 2
The flared streams merge together after exiting the tip to create the desired soft stream... resulting in average exit velocities that are lower than the flow velocities of the individual streams
Data Source
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AI summary
An aortic cannula tip for reintroducing blood into the blood stream via the aorta. The tip creates a soft flame-shaped flow pattern that reduces the chances of dislodging atheromatous or adherent thromba from the inside surfaces of the aorta. A gentle tapered shape allows the tip to penetrate a small incision made in the aorta without causing undo trauma or risk of tearing. The tip includes a circumferential ridge that allows the tip to be rotated and/or pivoted while in the aorta without breaking a seal formed between the ridge and the aortal wall. A secondary port provides access to a second lumen useable to deploy an intraaortic filtration system.