Arteriovenous Shunt With Pull Wire Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an arteriovenous (AV) shunt that can be quickly and minimally invasively delivered and deployed to create a fistula between adjacent vascular structures, with the ability to selectively adjust blood flow post-implantation to maximize benefits for patients with conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Innovation Solution
An AV shunt assembly featuring a tubular shunt with a flow control mechanism, including a pull wire looped around the shunt, which can be tightened to radially constrict and adjust the blood flow through the shunt, allowing for incremental control of blood flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If open surgical techniques are used to form anatomic connections, then the shunt can be securely implanted, but the procedure requires long recovery times and is more invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces open surgical mechanical techniques with percutaneous catheter-based delivery systems. The shunt is delivered through a catheter that is inserted percutaneously and navigated to the target site, eliminating the need for open surgical incisions and extensive tissue dissection while maintaining secure implantation through balloon expansion and radial force application.
2Device complexity
If the AV shunt is implanted with fixed flow characteristics, then the device structure is simple, but the flow cannot be adjusted post-implantation to optimize patient benefit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a flow control mechanism with an adjustable restriction element that can be dynamically repositioned after implantation. The restriction element is coupled to a control wire that extends to an external control port, allowing the operator to adjust the degree of flow restriction by manipulating the control wire, thereby changing the effective opening area and controlling flow rate through the shunt.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a control wire as an intermediary element to transmit mechanical force from an external control port to the internal restriction element. This intermediary mechanism allows remote adjustment of the flow restriction without requiring surgical intervention, enabling post-implantation optimization of flow characteristics.
3Adaptability or versatility
If repeated surgical interventions are performed to adjust flow, then the flow can be optimized, but the patient undergoes multiple invasive procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the patient or operator to perform flow adjustments themselves through a simple external control mechanism. The control wire extends to an external control port that can be accessed through the skin, allowing the user to manipulate the restriction element by pulling or pushing the control wire, thereby adjusting flow without requiring surgical intervention.
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
Enables quick and minimally invasive implantation of an AV shunt with adjustable blood flow, improving oxygenation and cardiac output for patients with COPD, allowing for in situ adjustments to optimize treatment efficacy without the need for repeated surgical interventions.
Implementation Method 1
pulling on the wire causes the pull wire to selectively tighten around the tubular shunt and radially constrict the tubular shunt, thereby reducing the rate of blood flow through the fluid passageway of the tubular shunt
Data Source
AI summary
An arteriovenous shunt assembly including a shunt and a pull wire operated flow control mechanism. The shunt has a tubular body that defines a fluid passageway between a first end and a second end thereof The pull wire mechanism includes a portion disposed around the tubular shunt in at least one loop. The at least one loop may be selectively tightened or loosened remotely from the shunt to regulate the rate of blood flow through the tubular shunt.