Elastic Bands for Vascular Compliance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Insufficient or reduced compliance in blood vessels, such as the aorta, leads to reduced perfusion and cardiac output, resulting in health complications.

Innovation Solution

Implantation of energy-storing bands across the inner diameter of the aorta or other target blood vessels to enhance compliance by expanding and contracting, mimicking the natural compliance of healthy vessels and promoting blood flow during the cardiac cycle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional grafting or resection procedures are used to treat reduced compliance, then vascular compliance can be improved, but patient outcomes are compromised due to increased surgical risks and complications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevascular complianceVSAvoidsurgical risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical surgical interventions (grafting, resection) with an energy-storing band system that uses elastic deformation and energy storage to restore vascular compliance. The band stores energy during systole and releases it during diastole, mechanically supporting the vessel wall without requiring invasive surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The energy-storing band acts as an intermediary device between the blood vessel wall and the blood flow. It mediates the compliance function by providing elastic support, allowing the vessel to expand and contract naturally while reducing the harmful effects of reduced compliance without direct surgical intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If energy-storing bands are implanted to enhance compliance, then cardiac perfusion is improved and pulsatile load is reduced, but device complexity is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecardiac outputVSAvoidimplant structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the blood vessel by introducing an energy-storing band that modifies the vessel's elastic properties. The band's elastic modulus and geometry are designed to provide optimal compliance enhancement, changing the vessel's mechanical parameters to improve cardiac output and reduce pulsatile load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The energy-storing band is implemented as a flexible, thin-walled structure that can deform elastically to store and release energy. This flexible film approach allows the device to adapt to the vessel's natural motion while providing the necessary mechanical support, avoiding the complexity of rigid surgical grafts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the band expands and contracts to mimic healthy vessel compliance, then blood flow is promoted during diastole, but energy storage and release mechanisms are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flowVSAvoidenergy storage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The energy-storing band operates through periodic expansion and contraction synchronized with the cardiac cycle. During systole, the band stores energy as it stretches; during diastole, it releases this energy to promote blood flow. This periodic action naturally follows the heartbeat rhythm without requiring external energy input or complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The band's elastic properties enable it to automatically store and release energy in response to pressure changes, without requiring external power sources or control mechanisms. The system is self-regulating, using the natural pressure differential between systole and diastole to drive the energy storage and release cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enhances vascular compliance, improving cardiac perfusion and reducing pulsatile load, thereby enhancing patient outcomes and avoiding risks associated with traditional grafting or resection procedures.

Implementation Method 1

one or more energy-storing bands configured to be connected across at least a portion of an inner diameter of the aorta or other target blood vessel to generate vascular compliance. For example, the band(s) can be configured to expand and contract, thereby reshaping the target blood vessel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250204915A1Compliance-enhancing bands

Publication Date: 2025.06.26 EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP

AI summary

A process for adding compliance to a blood vessel preferably includes forming a first puncture through a first wall segment of the blood vessel, forming a second puncture through a second wall segment of the blood vessel at a diametrically opposed location, deploying a first tissue anchor on an outside of the blood vessel in an area of the first puncture, deploying a second tissue anchor on the outside of the blood vessel in an area of the second puncture, and tensioning an elastic band coupled to the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor, thereby causing the elastic band to reshape the target segment of the blood vessel to a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The elastic band elongates and contracts during cardiac cycles for adding compliance to the blood vessel.