Self-Expanding Rotor Blades for Catheter Pump Insertion and Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid pumps with expandable rotors require complex mechanisms for expansion and compression, which can damage blood vessels and are not reliable in operation, especially in medical applications.
Innovation Solution
A rotor blade design that deforms under fluid counterpressure during operation, utilizing materials with different properties on leading and trailing sides to control deformation and maintain optimal conveying power, without external actuation elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotor is made expandable to increase pumping power, then the conveying capability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to required actuation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade automatically deforms under fluid counterpressure during rotation, expanding itself without requiring external actuation mechanisms. The fluid pressure directly causes the blade to bend from its folded transport state to its expanded operational state, making the system self-actuating.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor blade changes its physical state from compressed to expanded by utilizing the fluid counterpressure generated during rotation. The material properties of the blade (ductile leading side, compression-resistant trailing side) enable this parameter change in response to operational conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the rotor is compressed for insertion through narrow openings, then the ease of operation is improved, but the conveying power decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade transitions dynamically between two states: compressed/folded during transport and insertion, and expanded/deployed during operation. This dynamic transformation allows the system to optimize for either insertion ease or conveying power depending on the operational phase.
3Reliability
If external actuation mechanisms are added for rotor expansion, then the reliability of expansion is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade automatically deforms under fluid counterpressure during rotation, expanding itself without requiring external actuation mechanisms. The fluid pressure directly causes the blade to bend from its folded transport state to its expanded operational state, making the system self-actuating.
4Ease of operation
If the rotor blade is made deformable for automatic expansion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor blade has non-uniform material properties: the leading side is made ductile to allow bending and deformation, while the trailing side is made compression-resistant to maintain structural integrity. This local differentiation enables automatic expansion while preserving necessary strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor blade combines materials with different properties (ductile material on the leading side, compression-resistant material on the trailing side) to achieve both deformability for automatic expansion and structural strength for reliable operation.
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 rotor blade design allows for simple, reliable expansion and compression, minimizing vessel damage and enabling efficient fluid conveyance with adjustable power, suitable for medical and industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
the rotor blade assuming a second state during transition of the rotor into an expanded state by means of deformation... The rotor blade is thereby transferred from the first state into the second state by the fluid counterpressure which occurs during rotation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 2a
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Catheter pump having a pump head disposed at the end of a cannula (4), wherein a drive shaft (6) extends longitudinally through the cannula and is connected to a motor (7), the drive shaft carrying a rotor (18) with blades (20, 21), wherein the drive shaft (6) is mounted rotatably at the distal end of the pump head (3) in a bearing block (10) by means of a bearing (11).