Artificial Circulatory Chamber Pulsatile Flow Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current extracorporeal circulation techniques during cardiovascular procedures often result in linear, non-pulsatile blood flow, leading to complications such as Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, hemolysis, and reduced tissue perfusion due to the absence of arterial pulse, which traditional pumps like roller and centrifugal pumps fail to effectively address.

Innovation Solution

A chamber for artificial circulatory assistance is developed, featuring a rigid capsule with an impermeable membrane that divides into two compartments, allowing for pulsatile flow by absorbing and releasing pressure, mimicking the vascular system's extensibility and aortic capacitance, thereby reducing systolic pressure peaks and enhancing diastolic flow, and utilizing one-way valves to replicate the cardiac cycle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional roller or centrifugal pumps are used for blood circulation, then continuous blood flow is achieved, but the flow becomes linear and non-pulsatile causing Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and reduced tissue perfusion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood flow continuityVSAvoidSystemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by introducing a pulsatile flow mechanism that mimics natural cardiac cycles. The system uses a compliance chamber that expands and contracts periodically, creating pressure waves that propagate through the arterial system. This periodic expansion and contraction transforms the linear continuous flow from traditional pumps into a pulsatile flow pattern, delivering blood to tissues in rhythmic pulses that trigger proper physiological responses and prevent SIRS.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temporal parameters of blood flow by introducing pulsatility. The compliance chamber is designed to create pressure variations with specific frequency and amplitude characteristics that match physiological arterial pressure waves. By adjusting the expansion and contraction rate of the compliance chamber, the system optimizes the pulsatile flow parameters to achieve beneficial hemodynamic effects while maintaining continuous blood circulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If mechanical pumps produce linear flow, then pumping efficiency is maintained, but arterial pulse is absent leading to vasoactive substance release and capillary closure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepumping efficiencyVSAvoidvasoactive substance release
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a compliance chamber as an intermediary element between the mechanical pump and the arterial system. This chamber acts as a buffer that receives continuous flow from the pump and transforms it into pulsatile output. The chamber's elastic walls store and release energy, creating pressure waves that mimic natural arterial pulsation. This intermediary device allows the system to maintain pumping efficiency while generating the physiological pulse wave pattern needed to prevent vasoactive substance release and maintain capillary patency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If high filling volumes are used in extracorporeal circulation circuits, then circuit priming is achieved, but blood hemodilution occurs reducing oxygen transportation and increasing interstitial edema

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit filling volumeVSAvoidblood hemodilution
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the phase transition concept in the form of liquid-gas interface dynamics within the compliance chamber. The chamber is partially filled with gas and partially with blood, creating a gas-liquid interface that allows for efficient volume displacement with minimal blood volume. As the chamber expands and contracts, the gas phase compresses and decompresses, driving blood flow through the circuit without requiring large priming volumes. This reduces blood hemodilution and maintains proper oxygen transportation capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

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 chamber effectively reduces peripheral vascular resistance, minimizes blood pressure, and increases cardiac debt, thereby reducing complications like cerebrovascular accidents and mortality associated with resistant hypertension, while promoting better tissue perfusion and reducing hemolysis and blood trauma.

Implementation Method 1

an impermeable membrane that divides into two compartments, allowing for pulsatile flow by absorbing and releasing pressure, mimicking the vascular system's extensibility and aortic capacitance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3153189B1Chamber for artificial circulatory assistance and membrane
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 ZAMMI INSTRAL

AI summary

The present invention relates to a novel artificial circulatory assistance chamber for various uses associated with cardiovascular procedures, comprising a rigid capsule (10) with a base (11) and a dome (12), with blood inlet connectors (13) and blood outlet connectors (14), and respective one-way valves (15, 16). Said rigid capsule (10) contains an impermeable membrane (20) that divides the capsule into a blood compartment (17) and an outer compressible compartment (18) that is filled with a volume of gas/liquid.