Cannula With Flexible Ring For Tricuspid Valve Repair

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Minimally invasive tricuspid valve surgeries face challenges in selectively cannulating both the superior and inferior vena cava without external clamping, which is difficult due to the need for alternative cannulation sites and time-consuming balloon sealing methods.

Innovation Solution

A cannula design featuring a cone-shaped rigid ring connected by a flexible disk-shaped ring with a guide sleeve and tie rods, allowing for internal sealing and adjustable diameter, enabling selective blood drainage from both vena cavae through the femoral vein without external sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If external clamping with snuggers is used for vein isolation, then blood flow can be effectively blocked, but the procedure becomes difficult or impossible in minimally invasive surgeries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow isolationVSAvoidcannulation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of clamping the vein from the outside with snuggers, the patent applies an occlusive balloon from the inside of the vein to block blood flow. This inversion of the clamping direction allows the procedure to be performed through minimally invasive cannulation without requiring external access to the vein.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a flexible occlusive balloon that can be inserted through the cannula and inflated within the vein to create effective blood flow isolation. The flexible nature of the balloon allows it to conform to the vein interior and achieve reliable occlusion without requiring rigid external clamps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If two separate cannulas are used for SVC and IVC, then each vein can be cannulated, but the procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevein drainage capabilityVSAvoidcannulation procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functionality of two separate cannulas into a single integrated device with two branches, one for SVC and one for IVC. This merging allows both veins to be cannulated through a single insertion point while maintaining the ability to selectively occlude and drain from each vein independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single cannula device performs multiple functions: it can cannulate both SVC and IVC, selectively occlude either or both veins using independent balloons, and drain blood from both sources. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cannulas and simplifies the overall procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If balloons are used for internal vein sealing, then minimally invasive surgery becomes possible, but the balloon filling process is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveminimally invasive accessVSAvoidballoon filling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The occlusive balloons are pre-installed on the cannula branches before the surgical procedure begins. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming balloon assembly and filling during the surgery, allowing the surgeon to simply inflate the pre-positioned balloons when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The balloons are nested within the cannula structure during manufacturing, with each balloon positioned on its respective branch. This nested configuration allows for compact storage and easy deployment, reducing the time required to prepare and install the occlusion mechanism during surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 design simplifies minimally invasive cardiac surgery by allowing efficient blood flow isolation to the right atrium, reducing surgery time, and eliminating the need for balloon filling, making it safer and cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

Around the middle of each branch, there is an occlusive balloon which, after filling, seals the blood vessel from the inside

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic expansion: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

on its remaining length, it is slidably movable relative to the wall of the cannula

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11577015B2Cannula for minimally invasive surgical tricuspid valve repair

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 MEDINICE SA

AI summary

A cannula for minimally invasive surgical tricuspid valve repair, which is constituted by a tube (5). equipped, at its distal end. with a head (2) consisting of a cone-shaped rigid ring (3) and connected to it on the other side of a flexible ring (4). where the flexible ring (4) in the folded state has a disk shape, and on top of the head (2) there is an axial hole (8) leading to the interior of the cannula (1). and where on the whole length of the head (2) and on a part of the tube (5) near the connection to the head (2), from the inside, there is a thin guide sleeve (6) which, on the section of the rigid ring (3) is permanently attached to the surface of its wall, while on its remaining length, it is slidably movable relative to the wall of the tube (5).