Artificial Right Atrium Design for Failing Fontan Patients
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The Fontan procedure, a surgical palliation for complex congenital heart defects, is associated with short-term complications like pleural effusions and long-term risks such as atrial scarring, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, protein-losing enteropathy, chronic renal insufficiency, and high central venous pressure, which can lead to catastrophic failure of circulation and mortality.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an artificial chamber with specific conduits and a pump is designed to provide pulmonary support by mimicking a right atrium, minimizing blood particle residence time to prevent clotting and maintaining compliance to avoid over-pressurization of vena cavae.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Fontan procedure is performed to bypass the right ventricle, then venous blood flow is diverted directly to the pulmonary artery, but high central venous pressure develops leading to circulation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial chamber segments the venous return flow by providing separate superior vena cava and inferior vena cava inlets, allowing independent flow management and pressure regulation from each venous source before combining flows in the chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial chamber acts as an intermediary device between the venous system and pulmonary circulation, providing a compliant reservoir that buffers pressure fluctuations and prevents direct transmission of high venous pressure to the pulmonary artery
2Reliability
If the Fontan connection is surgically taken down or reversed to create a right atrium, then the patient's deteriorating heart condition is addressed, but massive bleeding occurs and the chamber is poor for cannulation
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial chamber is implanted as a pre-prepared device with built-in cannulation ports and optimized geometry, eliminating the need for complex surgical reconstruction of the right atrium and reducing intraoperative bleeding risks
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial chamber replicates the essential functional geometry of a native right atrium with smooth walls and appropriate inlet/outlet orientations, providing equivalent hemodynamic function without the surgical complexity of creating a synthetic atrium from scratch
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a synthetic right atrium is created to minimize blood particle component residence time, then blood clotting is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial chamber employs curved, streamlined internal geometry with smooth transitions and rounded corners that eliminate flow stagnation zones, minimizing particle residence time and preventing blood clotting through optimized fluid dynamics rather than complex active control mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial chamber including a first conduit, a second conduit, a third conduit, and a wall defining a space; in which the first conduit and the second conduit are positioned opposite one another; in which the third conduit is opposite the wall; and in which the wall has a concave surface is disclosed. The chamber can be part of a system for providing pulmonary support. The system includes the chamber and a first pump connected to the third conduit, and connected to a fourth conduit; in which the chamber receives fluid via the first conduit and the second conduit, in which the first pump receives fluid from the chamber via the third conduit; and in which the fourth conduit transports fluid from the first pump to a first blood vessel. Methods of making a chamber and a system, and methods of using the chamber and system are also disclosed.