Dual-Impeller Catheter Pump for Renal Venous Pressure Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cardiac dysfunction and congestive heart failure lead to increased renal venous pressure, causing fluid retention, kidney dysfunction, and a cycle of worsening heart and kidney conditions, known as the cardio-renal syndrome, which existing treatments fail to effectively address.
Innovation Solution
A catheter with upstream and downstream pumps or an occlusion element is placed in the vena cava to create a low-pressure region adjacent to the renal veins, reducing blood pressure within the renal veins by pumping blood away from this region, thereby alleviating the pressure and improving renal perfusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pumps are placed in the vena cava to reduce renal venous pressure, then renal perfusion is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate pumps (upstream and downstream) positioned at different locations in the vena cava, with each pump performing a specific function in creating the low-pressure region. This segmentation allows for more precise control of renal venous pressure while maintaining overall system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
A low-pressure region is created as an intermediary mechanism between the pumps and the renal veins. This low-pressure zone acts as a mediator to draw blood away from the renal veins, reducing renal venous pressure without requiring direct mechanical intervention at the renal vein level
2Stress or pressure
If blood is pumped away from the renal vein region to create low pressure, then renal venous pressure is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pumps create a low-pressure region that extends beyond the immediate renal vein area, affecting a larger volume of blood flow. This partial action approach allows the system to reduce renal venous pressure effectively without requiring excessive pumping power across the entire venous system
Solution Approach 2:
The system can operate the pumps in a periodic or intermittent manner rather than continuously, adjusting pump operation based on patient needs and response to treatment. This periodic action reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness
3Stress or pressure
If pumps are positioned upstream and downstream of renal veins, then pressure control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure control function is segmented into two distinct pumping zones (upstream and downstream of renal veins), with each zone contributing to the overall pressure gradient. This segmentation enables more precise pressure control at different locations while keeping each individual pump component relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The upstream and downstream pumps work together in combination to create the low-pressure region, merging their effects to achieve superior pressure control. This synergistic approach allows each pump to be simpler in design while collectively providing advanced pressure management
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 solution effectively lowers renal venous pressure, increases renal perfusion, and enhances the responsiveness to diuretics, providing a synergistic effect on pressure and flow while maintaining overall venous return and central venous pressure.
Implementation Method 1
generating a low-pressure region within the subject's vena cava, adjacent to junctions of the vena cava with the subject's renal veins, by activating the pump to pump blood away from the region
Implementation Method 2
activating the pump to pump blood away from the region
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes a catheter, a first impeller disposed on the catheter, and a second impeller disposed on the catheter, proximally to the first impeller. A motor drives the first and second impellers to pump blood of a subject, by driving the first and second impellers to rotate. The blood pumps is configured such that (a) the first and second impellers are shaped differently from each other when the first and second impellers are in non-radially-constrained configurations, (b) the first and second impellers are sized differently from each other when the first and second impellers are in non-radially-constrained configurations, and/or (c) the first and second impellers are driven by the motor to rotate under respective rotation conditions that are different from each other. Other applications are also described.