Inflatable Vessel Flow Modulator for Right Atrial Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Chronic kidney disease and heart failure patients experience impaired kidney function due to elevated right atrium pressure, leading to fluid overload and increased hospital admissions, and existing technologies fail to manage this condition effectively.
Innovation Solution
A device that includes a frame with an expandable member that can be inflated to occlude the lumen of the frame to occlude the lumen and a first expandable member that can be inflated to a first plurality of inflation states to partially or fully occlude the lumen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the expandable member is inflated to occlude the lumen to reduce right atrium pressure, then kidney function is improved and fluid overload is prevented, but blood flow through the vessel is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs dynamically adjustable expandable members that can be inflated or deflated based on real-time physiological conditions. The controller monitors right atrium pressure and blood flow parameters, adjusting the inflation state of expandable members to achieve optimal balance between reducing right atrium pressure and maintaining adequate blood flow, rather than using a fixed occlusion state
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state parameters of the expandable members (inflation pressure, volume, and degree of expansion) to modulate blood flow dynamically. By controlling these parameters, the device can transition between different operational modes (full occlusion, partial occlusion, or no occlusion) to address varying clinical needs while monitoring the impact on kidney function and blood flow
2Reliability
If the expandable member is inflated to fully occlude the lumen to maximize right atrium pressure reduction, then fluid overload prevention is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the occlusion function into multiple independent expandable members distributed along the lumen, each capable of being inflated or deflated independently. This segmentation allows the system to achieve fluid overload prevention through coordinated action of multiple simpler components rather than requiring a single complex occlusion mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves as an intermediary that coordinates the inflation and deflation of multiple expandable members based on physiological feedback. This intermediary component simplifies the overall system architecture by providing centralized control logic that manages the complexity of multi-member coordination, translating physiological needs into appropriate device responses
3Measurement precision
If the expandable member is made reversibly inflatable to multiple inflation states for flow modulation, then blood flow control precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses dynamically controllable expandable members that can transition between multiple inflation states (fully inflated, partially inflated, deflated) based on real-time physiological conditions. This dynamic capability enables precise blood flow control by adjusting the degree of lumen occlusion to match varying clinical requirements, rather than using fixed occlusion levels
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor right atrium pressure, blood flow parameters, and kidney function indicators. This feedback information is used by the controller to adjust the inflation state of expandable members, creating a closed-loop control system that achieves precise blood flow modulation while automatically adapting to changing physiological conditions
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 device effectively modulates blood flow to reduce right atrium pressure, improve kidney function, and prevent fluid overload, thereby reducing hospital admissions and improving quality of life.
Implementation Method 1
the first expandable member is configured to be reversibly inflatable to a first plurality of inflation states to partially or fully occlude the lumen
Data Source
AI summary
A device may include a frame including an inflow end and an outflow end. The frame defines a lumen between the inflow end and the outflow end. A device may include a first expandable member coupled to at least one portion of an internal surface of the frame and including a first inflation port. The first expandable member defines a first volume configured to receive an inflation fluid therein through the first inflation port. The first expandable member is configured to be reversibly inflatable to a first plurality of inflation states to partially or fully occlude the lumen. The devices described herein may be used to alleviate symptoms from congestive heart failure or chronic kidney disease.