Expandable Percutaneous Heart Pump Resolving Size-Flow Contradiction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heart pumps with fixed cross-sections are too large for percutaneous insertion and cannot provide full cardiac flow rates, posing a challenge for patients requiring mechanical circulatory support, especially for the left and right sides of the heart.

Innovation Solution

A heart pump design featuring a catheter body with a proximal and distal end, an impeller assembly, and a diffuser, allowing for percutaneous insertion and expansion to accommodate full cardiac flow rates, including a deployment device and self-sealing impeller tips, and an expandable sheath for efficient operation and retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a fixed cross-section heart pump is used, then the pump can provide full cardiac flow rates, but the pump becomes too large for percutaneous insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecardiac flow rateVSAvoidpump size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The pump transitions from a static, fixed cross-section design to a dynamic, expandable structure. The pump body can expand radially after percutaneous insertion to achieve full cardiac flow rates, while maintaining a compact profile for catheter delivery. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between pump size and flow rate capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pump is designed with a nested structure where the pump body can be collapsed into a compact form that fits within a catheter for percutaneous insertion. Once positioned, the pump expands from its nested state to its functional configuration, enabling full cardiac flow rates while maintaining deliverability through small access sites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Length of moving object

If a percutaneous heart pump is designed to be small for insertion, then the pump can be inserted percutaneously, but the pump cannot provide full cardiac flow rates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump sizeVSAvoidcardiac flow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump employs dynamic expandability, transitioning from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded functional configuration. In the delivery state, the pump is compact for percutaneous insertion; upon deployment, it expands to provide adequate flow rates, thus resolving the contradiction between size and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pump utilizes parameter changes in its structural configuration, specifically changing its radial dimension from a small compressed state during insertion to a larger expanded state during operation. This parameter transformation enables the pump to satisfy both the size constraint for percutaneous access and the flow rate requirement for full cardiac support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If surgical insertion is used, then the pump can provide full cardiac flow rates, but the procedure causes additional serious stresses in heart failure patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecardiac flow rateVSAvoidpatient stress

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical surgical insertion system with a less invasive percutaneous delivery system. By substituting open surgical access with catheter-based percutaneous insertion, the pump can provide full cardiac flow rates while significantly reducing the mechanical trauma and physiological stress on heart failure patients.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump serves as an intermediary device that can be delivered through a percutaneous catheter rather than requiring direct surgical implantation. This intermediary approach to delivery allows the pump to achieve its full flow rate capability while minimizing the invasive nature of the implantation procedure and reducing patient stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables percutaneous insertion and expansion to support both sides of the heart with full cardiac flow rates, reducing the stress on heart failure patients and facilitating longer-term treatment without the need for surgical intervention.

Implementation Method 1

The diffuser can include a flow directing surface. The diffuser is disposed between the distal end of the catheter body and the impeller.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffuser effect: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

The sheath also has an expandable distal end.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic expansion: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

The impeller assembly is coupled with the distal end of the catheter body and positioned within the housing.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpeller pumping: Impeller

Data Source

PatentUS20210170162A1Percutaneous heart pump

Publication Date: 2021.06.10 TC1 LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are heart pumps that can include a catheter body and an impeller coupled with a distal end of the catheter body. The impeller can include a tip that is resealable or that includes a resealable member. The heart pump can also include a diffuser disposed between the distal end of the catheter body and the impeller, wherein the diffuser includes a flow directing surface.