Left Atrium Cannula for Ventricular Decompression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing acute left heart failure, such as ECMO and IABP, do not effectively relieve the volume of the severely contracted left ventricle, limiting the potential for recovery of left ventricular contractility and being costly and complex in implementation.
Innovation Solution
A cannula system with a shaft having a heart-side inlet and a pump-side outlet, featuring a dimensionally stable lumen and a suture ring for secure attachment to the left atrium, allowing for the connection to an extracorporeal heart pump without external cannulation, thereby facilitating improved left ventricular support and patient mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ECMO or IABP is used to manage acute left heart failure, then circulation can be restored or supported, but the left ventricular volume is not effectively relieved, limiting recovery potential
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the heart support function into two separate cannulas: one for inflow (left atrium) and one for outflow (aorta), allowing independent optimization of each pathway and enabling direct left ventricular decompression without the complexity of full ECMO systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a direct cannula-based pathway as an intermediary between the left atrium and aorta, providing a simpler alternative to ECMO or IABP that directly addresses left ventricular volume relief while maintaining circulation support
2Reliability
If ECMO or IABP is used to support heart failure, then circulation can be maintained, but the cost and implementation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential function needed for left ventricular decompression (direct drainage from left atrium to aorta) rather than implementing the full ECMO system, thereby reducing cost and complexity while maintaining circulation support effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable cannulas and connectors that can be quickly implanted and removed, avoiding the need for expensive, complex, and permanent ECMO infrastructure while achieving the same therapeutic goal
3Reliability
If traditional cannulation methods are used, then heart support can be provided, but patient mobility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the pump externally on the patient's body rather than requiring internal implantation or restrictive tubing arrangements, allowing patients to move more freely while maintaining effective heart support through the cannula-pump-cannula configuration
4Stability of the object's composition
If a stable lumen is required for the cannula shaft, then structural integrity is improved, but manufacturing complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible yet dimensionally stable lumen structure within the cannula shaft that maintains its shape during insertion and use while being manufacturable using standard medical device techniques, balancing structural integrity with ease of production
Data Source
AI summary
A cannula for relieving the left side of the heart is provided, the cannula having a cannula shaft comprising a heart-side inlet and a pump-side outlet. A lumen extends between the inlet and the outlet, and a suture ring for connecting the cannula to a left atrium is arranged on an outer side of the cannula shaft. The outlet is configured such that the outlet can be connected to a pump and the length of the cannula shaft between the suture ring and the outlet is such that the cannula shaft can be guided outwards through an intercostal space.