Balloon Dilator with Smooth Transition for Cannula Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cannula insertion techniques for heart surgery and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) face difficulties due to the lack of a smooth transition between dilators and cannulas, leading to challenges in inserting arterial and venous cannulas, especially in small or elastic vessels, resulting in hemodynamic instability and potential vessel injury.
Innovation Solution
A balloon dilator system with a smooth transition between the dilator and cannula tip, which can be guided over a wire for precise placement, and features a stiffening element and inflation system for secure insertion and easy removal, providing a secure and efficient method for cannula placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional cut tube cannula with dilator is used for insertion, then the cannula can be forced into the blood vessel, but the step transition between dilator and cannula makes insertion difficult and causes blood loss
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is pre-formed with a tapered tip that gradually reduces in diameter, creating a smooth transition zone before insertion. This preliminary shaping eliminates the need for separate dilators and prevents the step transition problem that causes blood loss and insertion difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula tip is designed with a curved, tapered geometry rather than a straight cut edge. This curvature creates a gradual diameter reduction that smooths the transition from the cannula body to the tip, reducing trauma to the vessel wall and improving ease of insertion.
2Ease of operation
If a dilator is added to extend through the cannula tip, then insertion is eased, but the dilator is not well-secured and can push back into the cannula during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The dilator function is merged with the cannula structure itself by forming a tapered tip as an integrated part of the cannula. This eliminates the separate dilator component that requires securement, while maintaining the insertion-easing benefits of a gradual diameter reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula is segmented into distinct zones: a tapered tip portion with gradual diameter reduction, a main body portion, and a secured distal end. This segmentation allows the tapered portion to perform the dilator function while the secured distal end prevents any backward movement during insertion.
3Device complexity
If right angle-style cannulas without dilators are used, then the cannula structure is simple, but insertion into deep or small vessels is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is pre-formed with a tapered tip that gradually reduces in diameter, creating a smooth transition zone before insertion. This preliminary shaping eliminates the need for separate dilators and prevents the step transition problem that causes blood loss and insertion difficulty.
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 balloon dilator system facilitates safe and reliable insertion of cannulas into blood vessels with a smooth transition, reducing blood loss and vessel damage, and allows for precise placement and easy removal, improving the ease of insertion and stability during ECMO and heart surgery.
Implementation Method 1
The balloon might either be a single diameter or may have a larger diameter at the distal portion such that the diameter of the distal portion of the balloon dilator matches the diameter of the cannula at the tip
Implementation Method 2
features a stiffening element and inflation system for secure insertion
Data Source
AI summary
A dilator system for arterial and venous cannulas, where there is a smooth transition between the dilator and the outer wall of the cannula. One aspect of the subject technology provides a blunt-tip cannula that is used as a dilator for insertion of an arterial or venous cannula. The balloon might either be a single diameter or may have a larger diameter at the distal portion such that the diameter of the distal portion of the balloon dilator matches the diameter of the cannula at the tip. Another aspect of the subject technology is a balloon dilator for cannulae that may be positioned over a guidewire, for guidewire-directed placement of a cannula within a vessel, duct, lumen or heart structure of the body. Another aspect of the subject technology is an inflation system for the balloon dilator, such that the balloon dilator may be deflated and quickly removed from the cannula after the cannula has been positioned and secured within the vessel, duct, lumen or heart structure. Another aspect of the subject technology includes a stiffening element in the balloon dilator along its shaft to increase the rigidity of the combined balloon dilator and cannula to provide improved ease of insertion. Another aspect of the subject technology is an improved curvature of the shape of the right angle dilator that achieves more uniform flow within the dilator and ease of insertion and more even flow within the cannula, and ease of insertion of and retraction of the balloon dilator. Another aspect of the subject technology is a gel-filled balloon dilator that improves ease of insertion of the cannula within the vessel, duct, lumen or heart structure, and can be removed without deflation.