Foldable Catheter Pump Aortic Anchoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood pumps for heart failure patients require major surgery for implantation and lack a reliable fixation mechanism in the ascending aorta, leading to inefficiencies in blood flow and perfusion.
Innovation Solution
A foldable propeller-based catheter pump system with a deployable cage and adjustable DC motor-driven propeller, anchored in the ascending aorta using extensions or filaments to enhance blood flow and perfusion, reducing the workload on the left ventricle and improving coronary perfusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a foldable propeller is used to enable percutaneous insertion, then the need for major surgery is eliminated, but the pump lacks reliable fixation in the ascending aorta
Solution Approach 1:
The pump head is divided into separable components: a propeller assembly and a cage assembly. The cage can be deployed independently to provide fixation while the propeller remains separate for pumping function. This segmentation allows the fixation mechanism to be optimized without compromising the percutaneous insertion advantage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cage is deployed in a compressed state during insertion and then expanded to its full size in the ascending aorta to provide fixation. This preliminary deployment of the fixation structure before full operation ensures reliable anchoring while maintaining the benefits of percutaneous insertion.
2Power
If the pump is placed in the ascending aorta to reduce left ventricle workload, then coronary perfusion is improved, but the pump requires complex fixation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The cage serves multiple functions: it provides fixation in the ascending aorta, protects the propeller, and can be deployed independently to anchor the pump. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate fixation mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving the desired reduction in left ventricle workload.
3Productivity
If a large propeller is inserted percutaneously, then high-flow capacity is achieved, but the propeller requires protection from the aorta
Solution Approach 1:
The propeller is nested within the cage structure during insertion and operation. The cage acts as a protective enclosure that shields the propeller from direct contact with the aortic wall, preventing damage while allowing the large propeller to maintain high-flow capacity through its optimized blade design.
4Ease of operation
If the pump head is compressed during insertion, then percutaneous insertion is enabled, but the pump components must be deployed separately
Solution Approach 1:
The pump head is segmented into the propeller and cage as separate deployable components. This segmentation allows the cage to be deployed first for fixation and protection, followed by the propeller deployment for pumping function, simplifying the overall deployment sequence while enabling percutaneous insertion of the compressed pump assembly.
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 achieves a significant increase in pressure gradient, reducing left ventricle workload, enhancing coronary perfusion, and increasing cerebral perfusion by anchoring the pump in the ascending aorta, resulting in improved blood flow dynamics.
Implementation Method 1
The rotation of the propeller transmitted via the rotating wire placed in the central lumen of the inner catheter starts at the proximal end of the catheter (the drive coupling), which via a magnetic field to a DC motor
Implementation Method 2
The rotation of the propeller creates a pressure gradient inside the aorta. The blood pressure decrease created in the upper part of the aorta facilitates the ejection of the left ventricle
Implementation Method 3
The purge system consists of small channels inside the catheter to transport a 20% sterile glucose solution to lubricate the internal components
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention refers to a catheter pump to be positioned in the ascending aorta (11) near the aortic valve (10) of a human being, comprising an elongated sleeve 6 with a drive cable (5) extending through the sleeve and connectable at its proximal end to an external drive source and a drive rotor near the distal end of the drive cable (5) mounted on a drive shaft (4) being connected with the drive cable (5), wherein the drive rotor consist of a propeller (3) being enclosed in a cage (2) and wherein the propeller (3) and the cage (2) are foldable from an insertion position close to the drive shaft (4) to an expanded working position, characterized by means (7, 7a, 2a, 19) for anchoring the drive rotor (3) in the ascending aorta (11) near the aortic valve (10) after insertion. The invention also refers to a method to position the pumping means of a catheter pump in the ascending aorta (11) just above the aortic valve (10).