Balloon-Based Flow Restrictors for Partial Endovascular Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for congestive heart failure-related hypervolemia, such as full occlusion using balloons in the Superior Vena Cava, are complex and do not provide a long-term solution, necessitating repeated deflation to avoid excessive brain pressure.
Innovation Solution
A balloon-based apparatus with multiple inflatable balloons, controlled by separate inflation lumens, allows for varying the outflow aperture diameter to selectively limit blood flow, avoiding full occlusion and enabling precise fluid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full occlusion is used to limit blood flow, then fluid overload symptoms are improved, but device complexity increases due to repeated deflation and inflation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is divided into multiple independently controllable segments or zones that can be selectively inflated or deflated. This allows partial occlusion of the vessel rather than full occlusion, maintaining the ability to reduce fluid overload while avoiding the complexity of repeated full occlusion cycles. Each segment can be controlled independently through separate lumens or control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic control mechanisms that allow continuous adjustment of the occlusion level. Instead of binary full occlusion, the system can dynamically vary the degree of occlusion by controlling balloon inflation/deflation, enabling precise modulation of blood flow restriction to achieve therapeutic effects without excessive procedural complexity.
2Reliability
If full occlusion is used to limit blood flow, then fluid overload symptoms are improved, but the solution is not long-term due to excessive brain pressure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of full occlusion, the device implements partial occlusion by selectively inflating only portions of the balloon. This partial action is sufficient to achieve the therapeutic effect of reducing fluid overload while avoiding the harmful effects of complete vessel blockage, such as excessive brain pressure. The partial occlusion can be maintained continuously for long-term treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the parameter of occlusion level from binary (full or none) to continuous. By controlling the degree of balloon inflation, the system can adjust the occlusion level to maintain therapeutic effectiveness while preventing harmful effects. This parameter control enables long-term treatment without the need for repeated deflation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If repeated deflation and inflation is used to avoid excessive brain pressure, then patient safety is maintained, but productivity decreases due to procedural time
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with pre-configured multiple lumens and control mechanisms that enable selective inflation of specific balloon segments. This preliminary design allows the operator to achieve partial occlusion directly during the procedure without needing to perform repeated deflation and inflation cycles, thereby maintaining patient safety while improving procedural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables continuous partial occlusion through selective inflation of balloon segments, eliminating the need for intermittent deflation and re-inflation cycles. This continuous action maintains brain pressure control while significantly reducing procedural time and improving productivity, as the therapeutic effect can be sustained without repeated procedural interventions.
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
This approach provides flexible and precise control over fluid flow, reducing the need for repeated deflation and inflation, thus simplifying the procedure and enhancing treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
a first group of inflatable balloons in communication with the first inflation lumen and a second group of inflatable balloons in communication with the second inflation lumen. By selectively or differentially inflating one group of the balloons as compared to other of the second group of balloons, the apparatus may vary the diameter of the outflow aperture
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for temporarily limiting blood flow to heart uses balloon-based technologies to vary a diameter of the outflow aperture of an associated vessel. Related methods are also disclosed.