Blood Pump Sensor Shield for Membrane Protection During Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blood pump assemblies face damage during insertion due to torturous and calcified anatomy, necessitating precise operation and monitoring while minimizing physical and chemical interference.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a sensor shield with a barrier bump and visor, protective layers, and a blood aperture to protect the sensor membrane from physical damage and chemical reactions, allowing the assembly to traverse vascular obstacles while maintaining functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor membrane is made thin to improve measurement precision, then the sensor becomes more vulnerable to physical damage during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
A protective layer is introduced as an intermediary between the sensor membrane and the harsh vascular environment. This protective layer shields the thin sensor membrane from physical damage during insertion while remaining sufficiently transparent to allow optical signals to pass through for accurate blood parameter detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor membrane itself is designed as a thin flexible film that can deflect in response to blood parameters. The flexibility allows it to maintain sensitivity for detection while the thinness enables precise measurement of pressure and other parameters through deflection.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor is exposed to blood for accurate detection, then the sensor membrane may undergo chemical reactions or dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer serves as a chemical barrier between the sensor membrane and blood components. It prevents direct contact between the membrane material and potentially reactive blood substances, eliminating chemical reactions while still permitting optical transmission for detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor structure employs composite materials where the protective layer is made of biocompatible, chemically inert materials that resist blood dissolution, while the underlying sensor membrane maintains its detection functionality. This composite structure combines chemical resistance with sensing capability.
3Reliability
If protective mechanisms are added to shield the sensor, then the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer is implemented as a thin film rather than a bulky protective structure. This maintains simplicity by using a slender, minimally invasive design that provides adequate protection without significantly increasing device complexity or insertion difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer has asymmetric optical properties - it is highly transparent to the specific wavelengths of light used for sensor operation, while providing mechanical and chemical protection. This selective asymmetry allows protection without interfering with the sensing function.
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 shielded sensor design enables the blood pump assembly to navigate torturous vascular paths effectively, preventing damage and ensuring accurate blood parameter detection.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter
Implementation Method 2
a shield that covers at least a portion of the sensor membrane to protect the sensor from physical damage
Implementation Method 3
the shield includes at least one protective layer covering a surface of the sensor membrane
Data Source
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AI summary
A blood pump assembly can include various components such as a housing and a sensor configured to detect one or more characteristics of the blood. In some embodiments, the sensor can be coupled to the housing and can include a sensor membrane configured to deflect in response to a change in a blood parameter (e.g., pressure). The blood pump assembly can include a shield that covers at least a portion of the sensor membrane so as to protect the sensor from damage when the blood pump assembly is inserted through an introducer and navigated through the patient's vasculature and/or when the blood pump assembly is inserted into the heart in a surgical procedure. One or more protective layers can be deposited over the sensor membrane to prevent the sensor membrane from being dissolved through interactions with the patient's blood.