Cannula With Bent Accessory Lumen For Arterial Occlusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ECMO-VA systems face challenges with arterial occlusion and limb ischemia due to the placement of cannulas, which can lead to complications such as rhabdomyolysis, renal failure, and potential limb amputation, and require complex procedures with multiple puncture points and imaging techniques.

Innovation Solution

A cannula design featuring a main lumen and an accessory lumen with a bent portion that modifies the fluid flow direction, allowing for anterograde flow upstream and reducing the risk of occlusion by minimizing the artery's section reduction, eliminating the need for a separate reperfusion cannula and simplifying the insertion process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single cannula is inserted into a peripheral artery for VA-ECMO, then the procedure is simplified, but arterial occlusion and limb ischemia risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecannula configurationVSAvoidarterial occlusion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cannula is divided into two separate lumens: a main lumen for retrograde blood injection and an accessory lumen for anterograde blood flow. This segmentation allows simultaneous bidirectional flow through a single insertion site, preventing occlusion while maintaining procedural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The accessory lumen is positioned at an angular offset from the main lumen axis, creating a spatial dimension for anterograde flow within the retrograde cannula structure. This dimensional arrangement enables dual-directional flow without requiring separate cannula insertions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a second reperfusion cannula is added to compensate for limb ischemia, then limb perfusion is improved, but procedure complexity and puncture points increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelimb perfusionVSAvoidcannula configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory lumen integrates the reperfusion function directly into the main cannula structure. By combining the retrograde injection lumen and anterograde reperfusion lumen into a single cannula assembly, the solution merges two separate cannula functions while eliminating the need for a second puncture site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single cannula device performs multiple functions: retrograde blood injection through the main lumen and anterograde reperfusion through the accessory lumen. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated reperfusion cannulas and reduces overall procedural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If multiple puncture points are used for cannula insertion, then flow control is improved, but patient safety and procedure time worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow controlVSAvoidprocedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Both retrograde and anterograde flow paths are merged into a single cannula insertion site. The main lumen and accessory lumen are positioned to allow simultaneous bidirectional flow control from one puncture point, reducing procedure time while maintaining flow management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The accessory lumen is pre-configured with a bent portion that directs blood flow in the anterograde direction before insertion. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures immediate bidirectional flow control capability upon insertion, eliminating the need for additional puncture points and reducing procedure time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 cannula design significantly reduces the risk of arterial occlusion and limb ischemia, simplifies the ECMO implementation by reducing the number of puncture points, and minimizes complications like distal emboli and hematoma, facilitating a single-procedure setup for VA-ECMO.

Implementation Method 1

a bent portion modifying the direction of flow of the flow of fluid picked up by the accessory light vis-à-vis the direction of flow of the fluid emerging from the first end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow direction modification through geometric bending:

Data Source

PatentEP3541459B1Cannula, ecmo support system

Publication Date: 2023.07.26 ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE HOPITAUX DE PARIS (APHP)

Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~5

AI summary

A cannula (1) for the circulation of a fluid in an artery (5), comprising: ⁃ A main lumen (LP) conveying a volume of fluid (F3) towards a first distal end (1); ⁃ An accessory lumen (LAc) comprising at least one inner portion (29) arranged inside the main lumen (LP), comprising: o a proximal end (20) situated downstream from the proximal end (10) of the main lumen (LP) so as to capture a fraction (F2) of the flow of fluid (F1) entering the main lumen (LP); o a bent portion (21) modifying the direction of flow of the fluid flow (F2) captured by the accessory lumen (LAc) with respect to the direction of flow of the fluid emerging from the first end (10'); o a second distal end (20') situated upstream from the first distal end (10') of the main lumen (LP), emerging on a side opening (23) of the cannula (1) so as to direct said captured fraction (F2) of liquid in the modified direction of flow (1).