ECMO Access Vessel Using Venturi Effect for Safe Fluid Infusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Central venous access and dialysis catheters pose significant risks of bloodstream infections, anatomical injuries, and limitations in fluid and medication administration, particularly in patients requiring ECMO or CPB, due to their invasive nature and small bore diameters, which restrict fluid flow and require frequent replacements.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) fluid circuit with an access vessel that employs the Venturi effect to reduce fluid pressure, allowing for medication infusion and blood sample removal without central lines, enabling larger flow channels and minimizing blood loss, while accommodating multiple infusions and simultaneous sampling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If central venous access is used for medication infusion and blood sampling, then access reliability is improved, but the risk of bloodstream infections and anatomical injuries increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess reliabilityVSAvoidbloodstream infections and anatomical injuries

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the catheter from the patient's body entirely, replacing central venous access with an external access vessel connected to the ECMO circuit. This eliminates the foreign object (catheter) that causes infections and injuries, while maintaining vascular access functionality through the extracorporeal circuit's larger diameter vessel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary access vessel with a larger diameter than traditional catheters, connected to the ECMO circuit. This intermediary structure provides a safe pathway for medication infusion and blood sampling without requiring direct insertion into the patient's veins, thereby reducing infection and injury risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If small bore diameter catheters are used for central venous access, then device complexity is reduced, but fluid flow capacity and medication administration capability are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidfluid flow capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the critical parameter of diameter from small (traditional catheters) to large (access vessel). This parameter change enables high-volume fluid administration and rapid medication infusion while maintaining relatively simple device architecture by utilizing the existing ECMO circuit infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If central lines are used for continuous vascular access, then access duration is extended, but the frequency of replacement and associated infections increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess durationVSAvoidinfections from line replacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by using only the access vessel portion of the ECMO circuit for medication and sampling needs, rather than inserting separate catheters. This approach eliminates the need for repeated catheter insertions and replacements, thereby preventing associated infections while maintaining continuous access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Loss of time

If rapid central line insertion is performed during medical emergencies, then response time is reduced, but the risk of anatomical injuries and improper placement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidanatomical injuries and improper placement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the access vessel connection as part of the ECMO circuit setup before emergency situations arise. This pre-established access eliminates the need for urgent catheter insertion during emergencies, removing the time-pressure trade-off and eliminating associated risks of injury and improper placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach reduces the risk of bloodstream infections, minimizes anatomical injuries, and allows for continuous, high-volume vascular access without the need for central lines or dialysis catheters, enabling safe and rapid endovascular procedures with improved fluid management.

Implementation Method 1

an access vessel located within the fluid circuit and having a reduced pressure zone defined therein. The reduced pressure zone is utilized for infusing medications or other fluids into the fluid circuit, or for extracting blood samples from the circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20230338703A1Access vessel for patients connected to a fluid circuit

Publication Date: 2023.10.26 MUSTAFA ASIF K

AI summary

This invention relates to the infusion of medications and/or fluids into a patient, and/or the removal of blood samples therefrom. More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus, system and method of medication/fluid infusion into a patient and/or blood removal from a patient on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and/or cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) fluid circuit such that the need for utilizing a central line, as well as HD or CRRT lines on the patient is avoided.