Bent LV-to-Aorta Cannula Positioning to Protect the Mitral Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circulatory support devices face challenges in positioning the cannula to minimize interference with the mitral valve while effectively pumping blood from the left ventricle to the aorta, often causing damage and reducing blood flow efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The cannula is designed with a first bend positioned proximal to the aortic valve to center it within the valve and a second bend distal to the aortic valve, orienting the inflow openings through the left ventricular outflow tract and the distal end towards the apex of the left ventricle, using shape memory nickel-titanium alloy for flexibility and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cannula is positioned to pump blood from the left ventricle to the aorta, then blood flow efficiency is improved, but interference with the mitral valve occurs causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is divided into multiple segments with distinct bends (first bend proximal to aortic valve, second bend distal to aortic valve) that segment its path to navigate around the mitral valve while maintaining effective blood flow from left ventricle to aorta
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula utilizes multi-planar bending (first plane and second plane at different angles) to move the cannula tip through three-dimensional space, allowing it to position itself optimally relative to the mitral valve and aortic valve without direct interference
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cannula is positioned to minimize mitral valve interference, then harmful effects are reduced, but positioning precision and blood flow efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula incorporates flexible bends that can dynamically adapt to patient anatomy variations while maintaining optimal positioning, allowing the system to achieve both minimal mitral valve interference and precise blood flow path
Solution Approach 2:
The cannula uses shape memory nickel-titanium alloy with specific transition temperatures (20-40 degrees Celsius) that allow the bends to maintain their configured positions through temperature-dependent shape memory effects, ensuring consistent positioning precision
3Stability of the object's composition
If the cannula uses rigid material for stability, then positioning stability is improved, but adaptability to anatomical variations and blood flow efficiency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula is constructed from shape memory nickel-titanium alloy that combines rigidity for positioning stability with shape memory properties that enable adaptive bending, creating a composite functional material that provides both stability and anatomical adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the cannula have different mechanical properties - the bends are designed with specific flexibility to navigate anatomy while the main shaft maintains rigidity for stable positioning, creating local quality variations optimized for different functional requirements
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 configuration minimizes interference with the mitral valve, enhances blood flow efficiency, and maintains optimal positioning within the heart's anatomy, ensuring effective circulation support.
Implementation Method 1
the cannula at the second bend may be formed from a shape set nickel-titanium alloy. Alternatively or additionally to any of the examples above, the shape set nickel-titanium alloy may be a shape memory nickel-titanium alloy with a transition temperature in a range of twenty degrees Celsius to forty degrees Celsius.
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanical circulatory support system may include a blood pump and a cannula extending distally from the blood pump. The blood pump may include a motor and an impeller assembly in communication with the motor. The impeller assembly may be configured to pump blood from a left ventricle of a heart to an aorta in response to actuation of the motor. The cannula may include a first bend configured to be located proximal of an aortic valve of the patient when the impeller assembly is pumping blood from the left ventricle to the aorta and a second bend configured to be distal of the aortic valve when the impeller assembly is pumping blood from the left ventricle to the aorta.