Blood Pump Flow Guide for Counterpulsation and Cardiac Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood pumps, such as intra-aortic balloon pumps and percutaneous ventricular assist devices, fail to effectively increase cardiac output and improve coronary blood flow during percutaneous coronary intervention, particularly in high-risk patients.
Innovation Solution
A blood pump with a stent-like housing, a rotatable impeller, and a flexible drive shaft, combined with a flow guide that directs blood flow selectively to either the upper or lower body half, integrating intra-aortic counterpulsation and increased ejection rate by adjusting the direction of blood flow based on heart cycle phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If intra-aortic balloon pump is used for counterpulsation, then coronary blood flow is improved, but cardiac output increase is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the counterpulsation function (balloon inflation/deflation) with an axial pumping function into a single integrated device. The pump unit can simultaneously perform volume-dependent unloading of the left ventricle and intra-aortic counterpulsation, merging two previously separate functions to achieve both improved coronary blood flow and increased cardiac output.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can operate as a continuous-flow axial pump for ventricular unloading, as an intra-aortic balloon pump for counterpulsation, or in combination modes. This multi-functionality allows the single device to address both limitations by adapting its operation to achieve either coronary perfusion improvement or cardiac output enhancement or both simultaneously.
2Productivity
If axial pump is used for volume-dependent unloading, then cardiac output is increased, but coronary blood flow improvement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the counterpulsation function (balloon inflation/deflation) with an axial pumping function into a single integrated device. The pump unit can simultaneously perform volume-dependent unloading of the left ventricle and intra-aortic counterpulsation, merging two previously separate functions to achieve both improved coronary blood flow and increased cardiac output.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flow direction is made adjustable to support both upper and lower body perfusion, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guide is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of blood flow direction. The flow guide can be positioned to direct flow preferentially to the upper body or lower body or distribute flow evenly, providing adaptability to different clinical situations. This dynamic capability allows a single device to serve multiple perfusion needs without requiring multiple separate devices.
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
Enhances cardiac output and coronary blood flow by reducing left ventricular afterload and myocardial stress while maintaining coronary and cerebral perfusion, adaptable to patient-specific needs through adjustable pump speed and flow direction.
Implementation Method 1
a pump rotor, in particular an impeller, rotatably mounted in the housing... blood is drawn in on an intake side of the pump rotor through a suction tube of the blood pump and ejected on an output side of the pump rotor
Implementation Method 2
The pump inflates the balloon of the catheter during diastole and completely deflates it immediately before the onset of systole... When inflated, the balloon restricts blood flow to the lower half of the body, thereby increasing diastolic aortic pressure
Implementation Method 3
the blood pump has a flow guide arranged downstream of the pump rotor in order to direct the blood pumped by the pump rotor selectively to the first or to the second axial end of the housing while maintaining the direction of rotation of the pump rotor
Data Source
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AI summary
In a blood pump for supporting cardiac performance comprising a stent-like housing which has a first axial end and a second axial end, a pump rotor mounted rotatably in the housing, in particular an impellor, and a flexible drive shaft, which can be coupled to a motor in order to drive the pump rotor to rotate, whereby blood is sucked in on an intake side of the pump rotor through an intake tube of the blood pump and is ejected on a discharge side of the pump rotor, the blood pump has a flow directing means arranged downstream of the pump rotor in order to selectively direct the blood conveyed by the pump rotor to the first or to the second axial end of the housing whilst maintaining the direction of rotation of the pump rotor.