Implantable Vessel Pump with Movable Rotor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are invasive, require complex surgical procedures, have external energy and control units that risk infection, and are not suitable for patients with calcified vessels or peripheral arterial occlusion, as they provide continuous support regardless of need, leading to inefficient energy use and size constraints.
Innovation Solution
A pump designed for minimally invasive implantation in the heart or vessel, transitioning from a non-functional state for transport to a functional state within the body, using a wet-running electric motor with a separable rotor and stator, and expandable components to fit through small catheters, allowing intracorporeal energy supply and control units for reduced infection risk and adaptable support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current LVAD systems are used with external power supply and control units, then continuous cardiac support is provided, but the risk of infection increases along the wired connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external power supply and control units from the LVAD system, extracting the harmful wired connection that causes infection risk. The pump is designed to be completely implantable with all control functions integrated into the implantable device itself, eliminating the need for external components and wired connections to the patient's body.
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable pump is designed to perform multiple functions independently within the body: it provides pumping support, houses its own power supply, and contains all control electronics. This multi-functional integration eliminates the need for separate external devices and wired connections, thereby reducing infection risk while maintaining continuous cardiac support.
2Productivity
If LVAD systems provide continuous support with high blood flow, then cardiac output is maintained, but the power supply unit size increases preventing intracorporeal relocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power supply unit with the pump housing into a single integrated implantable device. The power supply, control electronics, and pumping mechanism are merged into one compact unit that can be completely implanted within the patient's body, eliminating the need for separate external power supplies and reducing overall system size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs advanced miniaturization techniques and high-energy-density battery technology to dramatically reduce the power supply unit size. By changing the energy density parameter and optimizing the electrical system efficiency, the device achieves sufficient power for continuous high blood flow delivery while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for complete implantation.
3Ease of manufacture
If surgical implantation of LVAD systems is performed with chest opening and heart-lung machine, then the pump can be implanted, but the procedure becomes complex and risky under general anesthesia
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the implantation procedure into a minimally invasive approach where the pump is delivered through a small venous access point (such as the superior vena cava) rather than requiring full chest opening. The device is deployed through catheter-based techniques, dividing the complex surgical procedure into simpler, less invasive steps that reduce surgical risk and eliminate the need for heart-lung machine support.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing LVAD systems are used in patients with peripheral arterial occlusion or porcelain aorta, then cardiac support is provided, but the systems are of very limited use due to calcified vessels
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of routing the pump delivery system through the problematic calcified arterial system (aorta and peripheral arteries), the patent inverts the approach by delivering the pump through the venous system. The pump is inserted via a peripheral vein and navigated to the heart through the right atrium and ventricle, completely avoiding the calcified arterial pathways and making the device suitable for patients with porcelain aorta or peripheral arterial occlusion.
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 minimally invasive implantation, reduced risk of infection, and adaptable support to calcified vessels, improving patient freedom and quality of life by providing cardiac assistance only when needed, with efficient energy use and reduced size constraints.
Implementation Method 1
the drive part has an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is designed as a wet rotor, and wherein in the first state the rotor of the electric motor and the stator of the electric motor are spatially separated from each other, so that rotation of the rotor (R) by the stator (S) is not possible
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a pump (1) which is to be implanted into a vessel or a heart, wherein the pump (1) is inserted into the vessel or the heart in a first state, in order to then be able to be functionally changed over to a second state, said pump having • a drive part and • a delivery part (FE), • wherein the drive part is non-functional in the first state and becomes functional owing to the changeover to the second state, wherein the drive part has an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is in the form of a wet rotor, and wherein the rotor (R) of the electric motor is arranged separately from the stator (S) of the electric motor in the first state, and wherein the rotor (R) of the electric motor is moved into the stator (S) of the electric motor in the second state, wherein the rotor (R) can drive the delivery part (FE) in the second state.