Cardiac Pump Triphasic Flow Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cardiac pumps used in surgery do not replicate the natural triphasic aortic flow of a beating heart, which may affect patient outcomes, and their pump heads are typically single-use due to impractical cleaning, leading to significant expenses.
Innovation Solution
A cardiac pump with a flexible tubing system and a reciprocating actuator that mimics triphasic aortic flow by moving actuating members between occluding and free orientations to peristaltically force fluid through the system, with adjustable strokes to simulate systolic, early diastolic, and late diastolic phases, and includes check valves for controlled flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional peristaltic or centrifugal pumps are used, then blood can be pumped with consistent flow, but the flow does not replicate natural triphasic aortic flow
Solution Approach 1:
The pump employs dynamic control of actuating members to transition between different pumping modes (peristaltic and centrifugal) and adjust stroke lengths to replicate the triphasic aortic flow pattern. The controller dynamically adjusts the operation of actuating members based on the desired flow phase (systolic, early diastolic, late diastolic), enabling the pump to adapt its mechanical action to match physiological requirements while maintaining reliable blood flow.
2Reliability
If pump heads are made single-use, then complete cleaning of blood residue is avoided, but significant expense is incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is segmented into reusable components (pump head with actuating members) and disposable components (flexible tubing). This segmentation allows the pump head to be cleaned and reused while the tubing is discarded after a single use, balancing cleaning completeness with cost reduction. The flexible tubing can be completely removed and replaced, ensuring no blood residue remains in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a strategy where the pump head is recovered and cleaned for reuse, while the flexible tubing is discarded after single use. This approach recovers the more expensive pump head component, reducing overall material costs while maintaining reliability through complete system cleaning via tubing replacement.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If flexible tubing is used in the fluid line, then the pump can be reused with improved cleaning, but the tubing must be completely cleaned of blood residue
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid delivery system is segmented into the pump head and flexible tubing, allowing the pump head to be cleaned and reused while the tubing is discarded. This segmentation simplifies the cleaning requirement for the reusable pump head by isolating the difficult-to-clean tubing portion in a disposable component.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible tubing is designed as a disposable component that is inexpensive and easily replaced. This allows the system to avoid the difficulty of completely cleaning blood residue from the tubing, as the entire tubing is discarded after single use, while the more expensive pump head is cleaned and reused.
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 cardiac pump effectively replicates natural aortic flow, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing costs by allowing for reusable components through improved cleaning protocols.
Implementation Method 1
the first actuating member at least partially occludes the fluid line when in its occluding orientation; the cardiac pump being operable such that when the actuator moves away from an inlet the first actuating member may be in its occluding orientation so as to peristaltically force fluid towards a fluid outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A cardiac pump is arranged to mimic triphasic operation. The pump uses a fluid line formed from flexible tubing, along with a reciprocating actuator arranged to move between a free orientation and an occluding orientation. This allows a portion of the fluid line to be selectively occluded during movement of the actuator, enabling blood or other fluids to be peristaltically forced fluid towards a fluid outlet. The direction of operation of the actuator, and the selection of appropriate occluding or free orientations, allows the pump to be operated in a triphasic manner.