Bidirectional Arterial Cannula With Deployable Retroperfusion Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of existing arterial cannulas for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) leads to lower limb ischemia due to non-perfusion, requiring a delicate and often difficult procedure to introduce a retroperfusion cannula into the femoral artery, which complicates the blood circulation and increases the risk of ischemia and thrombosis.

Innovation Solution

A bidirectional arterial cannula design featuring a main arterial cannula with a movable retroperfusion cannula that can translate between retracted and deployed positions, allowing blood to be injected retrograde towards the heart and anterograde towards the lower limb, minimizing the risk of ischemia and thrombosis by avoiding the need for separate cannula insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a main arterial cannula is used for retrograde blood injection into the artery, then blood can be reinfused towards the heart, but lower limb ischemia occurs due to obstruction of anterograde blood flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood circulation to heartVSAvoidlower limb ischemia

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The arterial cannula is divided into two separate functional components: a main arterial cannula for retrograde blood injection towards the heart, and a retroperfusion cannula for anterograde blood flow towards the lower limb. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function, eliminating the ischemia problem caused by single-cannula obstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retroperfusion cannula is nested within the main arterial cannula, with the retroperfusion cannula positioned inside the lumen of the main arterial cannula. This nested configuration allows both cannulas to coexist in the same arterial access site, enabling bidirectional blood flow through a single insertion point while maintaining separate flow paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a retroperfusion cannula is introduced separately into the femoral artery to prevent ischemia, then lower limb perfusion is restored, but the procedure becomes more complex and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelower limb ischemia preventionVSAvoidcannula insertion procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The main arterial cannula and retroperfusion cannula are combined into a single integrated device assembly. The retroperfusion cannula is positioned within the main arterial cannula, allowing both functions to be deployed through a single insertion procedure rather than requiring separate cannulation of the femoral artery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The main arterial cannula serves dual functions: it provides the primary retrograde blood injection pathway towards the heart, and simultaneously serves as the delivery mechanism and housing for the retroperfusion cannula that provides anterograde flow to the lower limb.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a retroperfusion cannula is introduced separately into the femoral artery, then anterograde blood flow to lower limb is restored, but the risk of thrombosis increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelower limb perfusionVSAvoidthrombosis risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retroperfusion cannula is nested within the main arterial cannula, creating a protected internal pathway for anterograde blood flow. This nested configuration reduces exposure of the retroperfusion cannula to external thrombogenic factors and minimizes turbulence at cannula entrances, thereby reducing thrombosis risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The bidirectional cannula system establishes continuous, laminar blood flow pathways in both retrograde and anterograde directions. The continuous flow reduces stasis and turbulence, which are key factors in thrombus formation, thereby maintaining lower thrombosis risk compared to separate cannula placements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12478722B2Bidirectional arterial cannula for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and method for using such a cannula

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 NOVAFLOW

AI summary

An arterial cannula for ECMO includes a main arterial cannula with an inner wall and having a first end with a blood outflow port. The first end is intended to be introduced into an artery so as to inject the blood retrogradely into the artery. A retro-perfusion cannula is configured to be translatably movable between a retracted position in the first end of the main arterial cannula and a deployed position at least partly outside the main arterial cannula and opposite the blood outflow port of the main arterial cannula.