Implantable Blood Flow Sensor with Vessel Wall Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining heart-time volume in implanted left heart assist systems are limited, as they require transcutaneous catheters and cannot continuously measure fluid volume flow outside of cardiac surgery, lacking a fully implanted solution for recording heart-time volume.
Innovation Solution
An implantable device with sensors, such as ultrasonic transducers, and a retaining means to secure the sensors within the blood vessel wall, allowing for continuous measurement of fluid volume flow through the blood vessel, including the heart-time volume, which is the sum of pump and aortic valve volume flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transcutaneous catheters are used for measuring heart-time volume, then measurement capability is achieved, but the device cannot be fully implanted and requires external connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated device: the sensor for measuring flow parameters, the retaining means for securing the device in the vessel wall, and the vessel wall port for potential external connections are merged into one unit. This allows the device to be fully implanted while maintaining measurement capability, eliminating the need for separate transcutaneous catheters.
Solution Approach 2:
The vessel wall port serves as an intermediary element that can accommodate both fully implanted operation and temporary external connections during implantation or maintenance. This mediator allows flexibility in the implantation approach without compromising the core function of continuous measurement.
2Reliability
If sensors are implanted within the blood vessel wall, then continuous monitoring is enabled, but the device requires secure retention in the vessel wall
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining means is designed to secure the sensor in the correct position within the vessel wall before the device becomes operational. This preliminary securing action ensures that the sensor is properly positioned for accurate measurements before blood flow begins to exert forces on the device, preventing displacement during critical initial operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining means provides localized anchoring at specific positions within the vessel wall, creating stable retention points that ensure precise sensor positioning. This localized quality approach allows the sensor to be securely held in the optimal position for measurement while minimizing interference with surrounding tissue.
3Ease of operation
If the device is designed for full implantation, then patient comfort and continuous recording are improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with multi-functionality to accommodate different operational modes: it can be fully implanted for continuous monitoring and patient comfort, or the vessel wall port can be used for temporary external connections during implantation or maintenance procedures. This universal design allows the same device structure to serve multiple purposes without requiring separate devices for different scenarios.
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 continuous monitoring of heart-time volume outside of cardiac surgery, providing essential clinical data for managing implanted left heart assist systems, enhancing patient care and system operation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor, in particular at least one ultrasonic sensor, for recording at least one flow parameter
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an implantable device (1) for determining a fluid volume flow (2) through a blood vessel (3), comprising: —at least one sensor (4) for recording at least one flow parameter, —a retaining means (5) for retaining a vessel wall port (6) in the region of a vessel wall (7) of the blood vessel (3), wherein the retaining means (5) is formed to retain the at least one sensor (4) in the region of the vessel wall (7).