Clampless CABG Graft Attachment Using Shape Memory Clips
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery techniques face challenges such as trauma to arteries, risk of plaque dislodgement, difficulties in suturing under time pressure, and complications with blood flow diversion methods like side-biting clamps and balloon catheters, which can lead to neurological defects and strokes.
Innovation Solution
The use of a surgical connection apparatus featuring self-closing clips and barbs made from shape memory alloy, which are ejectable from a support structure to securely attach a graft to a tubular structure without clamping, allowing for simultaneous deployment to reduce procedure time and improve attachment consistency and efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a side-biting clamp is used to isolate the aortic region for proximal anastomosis, then the surgeon can create the anastomosis without exposure to high-pressure blood flow, but the risk of arterial trauma and plaque dislodgement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful clamping action from the anastomosis procedure by using a clampless anastomosis device that creates a sealed workspace without mechanical clamps, thereby eliminating arterial trauma and plaque dislodgement risks while maintaining reliable anastomosis creation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sealed enclosure that creates a bloodless workspace between the aorta and graft, allowing anastomosis to be performed without direct exposure to high-pressure blood flow or mechanical clamping, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and harm reduction
2Reliability
If traditional suturing methods are used for graft attachment, then the anastomosis can be securely connected, but the procedure time increases under time pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical suturing process with an automated delivery mechanism that deploys pre-formed clips and barbs through controlled mechanical action, significantly reducing procedure time while maintaining secure graft attachment through the same fundamental clipping mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the clips and barbs on the delivery device before insertion, and by pre-positioning them for simultaneous deployment, which eliminates the time-consuming step-by-step suturing process while ensuring secure attachment
3Ease of operation
If balloon catheter is used to divert blood flow, then blood flow diversion is achieved, but the risk of plaque disturbance, particle creation, and aortic tissue trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the blood flow diversion function from the balloon catheter mechanism and replaces it with a clampless sealed enclosure that naturally excludes blood from the anastomosis workspace through its sealed design, eliminating plaque disturbance and aortic tissue trauma risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sealed enclosure as an intermediary structure that diverts blood flow away from the anastomosis site through its physical barrier rather than through balloon inflation, thereby achieving blood flow diversion without the harmful effects of plaque disturbance or tissue trauma
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 solution reduces the risk of arterial trauma, plaque dislodgement, and improves the speed and reliability of graft attachment, minimizing the risk of complications like strokes and tissue damage during CABG procedures.
Implementation Method 1
self-closing clips and barbs made from shape memory alloy
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical connection apparatus comprises a support structure, a plurality of clips, which can be self-closing clips, each clip being releasably coupled to the support structure, and a plurality of barbs, each barb being coupled to the support structure, the barbs being separate from the clips, which are ejectable from the support structure independently of the barbs.