Implantable Damping Devices for Arterial Pulse Pressure Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
As arterial walls age and lose elasticity, they fail to effectively dampen flow pulsatility, leading to increased systolic pressure and pulse pressure, which contributes to vascular and age-related dementias such as Alzheimer's disease.
Innovation Solution
Implantable damping devices with flexible, viscoelastic damping members and anchoring structures are deployed in arteries to absorb pulse pressure, reducing the transmission of excessive force to distal branches and minimizing pulsatile stress on sensitive organs like the brain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If arterial walls are left to age naturally, then the arterial structure remains intact, but the elasticity is lost and pulse pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a damping device as an intermediary element between the heart and the brain, positioned in the aorta or carotid artery. This device mediates the pulse wave transmission by absorbing excess energy during systole and releasing it during diastole, thereby reducing pulse pressure without requiring modification of the arterial walls themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping device changes the physical parameters of the arterial system by introducing a compliant structure with specific elastic properties. The device's compliance is designed to be higher than that of aged arterial walls, allowing it to expand and contract in response to pulse waves, thereby altering the pressure waveform and reducing pulse pressure transmission to distal vessels.
2Stress or pressure
If damping devices are implanted in arteries, then pulse pressure is reduced, but device complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device employs flexible, thin-walled structures that can expand and contract in response to pulse waves. These flexible shells are designed with specific geometric configurations (such as bellows or accordion-like structures) that provide the necessary compliance while maintaining structural integrity. The simplicity of using flexible membranes rather than complex mechanical components reduces manufacturing complexity and improves biocompatibility.
3Stress or pressure
If arterial walls expand to dampen pulse waves, then pulse pressure is reduced, but the arterial lumen is narrowed
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is positioned in the aortic arch or proximal aorta, which provides a larger cross-sectional area compared to distal arteries. By placing the compliant structure in this location, the device can expand radially to absorb pulse energy without significantly compromising the lumen volume available for blood flow to the brain. The three-dimensional configuration of the device allows it to expand in directions that minimize interference with forward blood flow.
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 damping devices reduce pulsatile stress, potentially preventing or slowing the progression of vascular and age-related dementias by evenly distributing pressure and reducing the magnitude of pulse pressure.
Implementation Method 1
The damping member can include a viscoelastic core. The damping member can be configured to absorb a portion of the pulsatile energy of the blood
Implementation Method 2
the damping member can include an undulating or hourglass-shaped sidewall... the distance between the outer and inner surfaces can be greater at the damping region
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for reducing stress on a blood vessel are disclosed herein. A damping device (100) configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include an anchoring member (104) coupled to a flexible, compliant damping member (102) including a generally tubular sidewall having an outer surface (115), an inner surface (113) defining a lumen configured to direct blood flow, a first end portion (106) and a second end portion (108), and a damping region (120) between the first and second end portions (106, 108). The inner and outer surfaces (113, 115) of the damping member (102) can be spaced apart by a distance that is greater at the damping region (120) than at either of the first or second end portions (106, 108). When blood flows through the damping member (102) during systole, the damping member (102) absorbs a portion of the pulsatile energy of the blood, thereby reducing a magnitude of the pulse pressure transmitted to a portion of the blood vessel distal to the damping device (100).