ECG-Triggered Piston Pump for Synchronized Pulsatile Fluid Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiovascular pump systems fail to effectively synchronize fluid ejection with the natural rhythm of the cardiovascular system, often relying on pacemakers for regulation and lacking the ability to distribute filling over multiple cardiac cycles.
Innovation Solution
A biocompatible positive displacement pump that triggers with the beating of a mammalian heart, using an ECG signal to synchronize fluid ejection and filling over multiple heartbeats, with a configurable pump head and adaptable control architecture to augment pulsatile characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pump system uses traditional regulation methods (e.g., pacemakers) to control fluid ejection, then the system can maintain basic rhythmic function, but it fails to effectively synchronize fluid ejection with the natural rhythm of the cardiovascular system
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses ECG signal feedback to detect cardiac rhythm and automatically adjusts pump operation timing based on detected R-wave peaks and QRS complexes. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables precise synchronization with the cardiovascular system's natural rhythm while maintaining adaptability to varying heart rates and cardiac cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system dynamically adjusts its operation parameters including fill time, eject time, and delay intervals based on real-time ECG signal analysis. The system can modify filling duration and ejection timing to distribute filling over multiple cardiac cycles when needed, providing dynamic adaptability rather than fixed rhythmic control.
2Productivity
If the pump fills quickly from a single source, then productivity is improved, but the impact on the draw source increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filling process is segmented into multiple discrete fill events distributed across several cardiac cycles. Instead of a single rapid fill, the pump performs multiple smaller fills at intervals synchronized with ECG-detected cardiac cycles. This segmentation reduces the instantaneous demand on the draw source while maintaining overall productivity through cumulative filling.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump employs periodic filling actions synchronized with the cardiovascular rhythm detected from ECG signals. Multiple periodic fill cycles are performed with controlled intervals, allowing the draw source to recover between fills. This periodic action pattern reduces harmful impacts on the draw source compared to continuous or single-rapid filling.
3Ease of operation
If the pump uses fixed timing for fluid ejection, then operational simplicity is maintained, but the ability to adapt to different physiological models is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting ECG signals and autonomously determining optimal timing parameters for different physiological conditions. The system calculates delay intervals, fill times, and ejection timing based on detected cardiac characteristics without requiring manual reconfiguration, maintaining ease of operation while achieving adaptability to different physiological models.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters including delay time, fill duration, and ejection timing based on ECG signal analysis. Different physiological models trigger different parameter sets automatically, allowing the pump to adapt its timing characteristics while maintaining simple operation through automated parameter adjustment rather than manual configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A positive displacement pump that triggers with the beating of a mammalian heart, through the monitoring of an ECG signal is disclosed. A programmable delay from the detection of the forthcoming contraction of the heart enables the pump to syncopate the ejection of the fluid with the events occurring in the cardiovascular system. This delayed ejection could be used to overlay the ejected fluid from the pump with a pressure wave in the artery of systemic circulation through a catheter connection between the pump and a physiological model (e.g., cow, dog, human). The outcome of this use could be to raise the pulse pressure in the system to take advantage of physiological pathways that respond to this transient change in blood pressure. The novelty of this system stems from the adaptable control architecture designed to augment the pulsatile characteristics of the cardiovascular system. This inventive concept could be expanded to encompass the augmentation (dampen or enhance) of pulsatile characteristics in any oscillating flow system.