Collapsible Intravascular Pump for Minimally Invasive Hemodynamic Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical treatments for heart failure, such as ventricular assist devices, are invasive and can hinder cardiac recovery, while the scarcity of donor hearts limits the availability of heart transplants, necessitating a minimally invasive, non-damaging hemodynamic assist device that can be implanted and retrieved without compromising heart function.
Innovation Solution
An intravascular, collapsible hemodynamic flow assist device featuring a miniature helical screw pump with collapsible blades and a motor, transformable between collapsed and expanded configurations for minimally invasive implantation and retrieval, powered by an internal battery or external wire, and equipped with sensors and a basket-like cage for anchoring within the aorta.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a ventricular assist device is implanted to provide mechanical treatment for heart failure, then blood flow is improved, but the device is invasive and hinders cardiac recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is nested within a collapsible cage structure that can be compressed into a compact form for percutaneous insertion through blood vessels. The entire assembly (pump, motor, cage) fits within a delivery catheter, allowing minimally invasive implantation without open heart surgery, thereby improving blood flow while reducing invasiveness and potential harm to cardiac recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs a collapsible cage structure made of flexible materials that can be compressed to a small diameter for insertion through peripheral vessels and then expanded at the implantation site. This flexible shell approach enables percutaneous access, avoiding the need for invasive surgical implantation while still providing the necessary structural support for pump operation
2Ease of operation
If a collapsible pump design is used for minimally invasive implantation, then ease of implantation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cage structure transitions from a collapsed state during insertion to an expanded state during operation. This dynamic transformation allows the device to be inserted through a small percutaneous access point and then deployed to its full functional configuration, simplifying the implantation procedure while managing the complexity of the transformation mechanism through elastic memory materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical expansion mechanisms with elastic memory materials that automatically expand the cage from its collapsed to expanded state upon deployment. This substitution eliminates the need for complex actuators, motors, or control systems for the expansion function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ease of implantation
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 device increases systemic blood flow, reduces strain on the diseased heart, allowing for potential cardiac recovery by providing additional 2.5 L/min of blood flow, and can be easily implanted and retrieved, addressing the limitations of existing mechanical treatments.
Implementation Method 1
The cage and the pump are made collapsible, for example, through the use of shape memory alloy
Implementation Method 2
The pump is a miniature, collapsible helical screw pump
Data Source
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AI summary
A hemodynamic flow assist device includes a miniature pump, a basket-like cage enclosing and supporting the pump, and a motor to drive the pump. The device is implanted and retrieved in a minimally invasive manner via percutaneous access to a patient's artery. The device has a first, collapsed configuration to assist in implantation and a second, expanded configuration once deployed and active. The device is deployed within a patient's aorta and is secured in place via a self-expanding cage which engages the inner wall of the aorta. The device includes a helical screw pump with self-expanding blades. Also included is a retrieval device to remove the hemodynamic flow assist device once it is no longer needed by the patient. Also included is an arterial closure device to close the artery access point after implantation and removal of the hemodynamic flow assist device. The hemodynamic flow assist device helps to increase blood flow in patients suffering from congestive heart failure and awaiting heart transplant.