Collapsible Heart Pump With Flexible Guides for Minimally Invasive Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cardiac assist devices are either too large for minimally invasive procedures or lack structural integrity to apply optimal compressive and tensile forces to the heart, compromising heart function and requiring invasive surgeries.

Innovation Solution

A collapsible cardiac assist device with flexible guides that provide structural integrity, allowing minimally invasive insertion and application of customized compressive and tensile forces through inflatable membranes and a reinforced outer shell, tailored to the heart's strain assist profile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cardiac assist device is designed to apply optimal compressive and tensile forces to the heart, then heart pumping function is improved, but the device becomes too large for minimally invasive procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheart pumping functionVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cardiac assist device is divided into multiple segments including an outer shell with inflatable membranes, flexible guides, and modular components that can be inserted separately and assembled in situ within the pericardial space, enabling minimally invasive deployment while maintaining full functional capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs a nested structure where inflatable membranes are positioned within the outer shell, flexible guides are inserted through the pericardial space, and modular components can be collapsed within each other for insertion through small incisions, then expanded to full size once positioned

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a cardiac assist device is made collapsible for minimally invasive insertion, then invasiveness is reduced, but structural integrity to apply optimal forces is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinvasivenessVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The device utilizes an outer shell constructed from flexible materials that can be collapsed for insertion through small incisions, then expanded to provide the necessary structural integrity for applying compressive and tensile forces to the heart during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

Flexible guides are inserted through the pericardial space to serve as intermediary structures that support and position the collapsible device components, providing temporary structural support during insertion and maintaining device positioning once deployed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If open heart surgery is used to insert the cardiac assist device, then device positioning is improved, but surgical invasiveness and recovery time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice positioningVSAvoidrecovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into multiple insertable components that can be deployed through small pericardial incisions using minimally invasive techniques, eliminating the need for sternotomy and reducing surgical trauma while maintaining accurate device positioning through guided assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Flexible guides and pericardial space preparation serve as intermediary steps that enable minimally invasive device insertion, providing a pathway for device components to reach their final positions without requiring open chest surgery, thereby reducing surgical invasiveness and recovery time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables efficient heart pumping assistance with minimal invasiveness, accommodating scarred or complex pericardial areas, and optimizing heart filling and emptying forces.

Implementation Method 1

application of customized compressive and tensile forces through inflatable membranes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS12440338B2Minimally invasive heart pump with modular adjustable construct insertion

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 LIFEBRIDGE TECH LLC

AI summary

A system and method for the installation and operation of a cardiac assist device. Flexible guides are advanced into a prepared space using minimally invasive techniques. A heart pump construct is advanced into position in the pericardial area along the flexible guides. Once in position, the heart pump construct is activated while still engaged with the flexible guides. The flexible guides provide structural integrity to the heart pump construct needed in order for the heart pump construct to function properly. The forces supplied to the heart by the heart pump construct are affected by the presence of the flexible guides. The structure of the flexible guides, the position of the flexible guides and the structure of the heart pump construct are customized to supply the forces needed by a particular heart in order to assist the heart in pumping more efficiently.