Extracorporeal Perfusion Pump Control with NIRS for Limb Ischemia

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for increasing blood flow to extremities during interventional procedures or due to vascular obstructions, such as those caused by interventional devices or circulatory assist devices, are ineffective in reducing limb ischemia and often lead to adverse outcomes like prolonged hospital stays and limb amputation.

Innovation Solution

A perfusion system using an extracorporeal pump and cannula/tubing set that withdraws oxygenated blood from a patient's vasculature and reintroduces it at a controlled pressure or flow rate, independent of the interventional device, with feedback from NIRS sensors to regulate perfusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If passive extracorporeal shunt tubing is used to increase blood flow to extremities, then blood flow path is extended, but limb ischemia reduction is ineffective and adverse outcomes increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow path lengthVSAvoidlimb ischemia reduction effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces passive mechanical shunt tubing with an active blood pump system that actively propels blood through the extracorporeal circuit. The blood pump provides sufficient flow velocity and pressure to prevent thrombus formation while maintaining effective perfusion to the extremities, overcoming the limitations of passive gravity-dependent flow in traditional shunt tubing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system actively controls and adjusts blood flow parameters (flow rate, velocity, pressure) through the pump to optimize perfusion effectiveness and prevent ischemia. This active parameter control transforms the passive, ineffective long-path shunt into an effective perfusion system that can maintain adequate tissue oxygenation despite the extended circuit length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If interventional devices or circulatory assist devices are placed in vessels, then cardiac or vascular interventions can be performed, but downstream blood flow is obstructed causing limb ischemia

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterventional procedure capabilityVSAvoiddownstream blood flow obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the blood flow path into two separate circuits: (1) the intravascular path through the interventional device in the central vessel, and (2) an extracorporeal bypass path that flows around the obstruction. The blood pump drives flow through the extracorporeal circuit, providing parallel flow paths that allow the interventional device to remain in place while maintaining distal perfusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extracorporeal blood pump system acts as an intermediary that creates an alternative blood flow route bypassing the obstruction caused by the interventional device. The pump-driven extracorporeal circuit mediates between the proximal vessel (upstream of obstruction) and distal vessel (downstream of obstruction), maintaining perfusion without requiring removal or repositioning of the interventional device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If manual pericardial aspiration is performed to reduce blood accumulation, then pericardial blood volume is reduced, but transportation time to operating room increases heart function impairment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepericardial blood volumeVSAvoidtransportation time to operating room

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables self-service pericardial drainage by integrating a blood pump that can directly aspirate blood from the pericardial space through a catheter. This eliminates the need for manual aspiration and immediate surgical intervention, allowing continuous or intermittent drainage during transportation and other procedures, thereby reducing pericardial blood volume without requiring rapid transport to the operating room.

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

The system effectively increases tissue oxygenation and reduces the risk of limb ischemia by maintaining targeted blood flow and pressure, preventing thrombus formation and minimizing the need for amputations.

Implementation Method 1

feedback from NIRS sensors to regulate perfusion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNear-infrared spectroscopy: Absorption Spectroscopy

Data Source

PatentUS12364852B2Perfusion systems and methods for monitoring tissue oxygenation and reducing limb ischemia

Publication Date: 2025.07.22 TULYP MEDICAL SAS

AI summary

Perfusion systems and methods are provided for increasing peripheral blood flow to reduce limb ischemia, in which an extracorporeal pump having a controller, and catheter/tubing set, employed alone or in conjunction with an interventional or circulatory assist device, withdraws blood from a patient's vasculature and reintroduces that blood at another location within the patient's vasculature at a controlled local pressure or flow rate, without interfering with operation of the interventional or circulatory assist device or surgical intervention.