Intravascular Blood Pump Valve Annulus Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current implantable blood pumps placed within heart chambers reduce available blood capacity and can cause leakage and damage to heart valves, necessitating alternative placement methods that maintain effective pumping and valve function.

Innovation Solution

An implantable blood pump apparatus with a tubular casing and rotor-stator design is positioned within a native heart valve annulus, forcing native valve leaflets into an open position and using a pump attachment device to secure the pump, forming a seal to prevent leakage and minimize tissue damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the blood pump is placed within a chamber of the heart, then direct pumping support is provided to the chamber, but the volume of the chamber available for blood capacity is decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepumping supportVSAvoidchamber volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is extracted from the heart chamber and repositioned within the heart valve annulus. This relocation removes the pump from the chamber space, thereby preserving chamber volume for blood capacity while maintaining the pump's ability to provide direct pumping support to the chamber through its proximity and positioning within the valve structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heart valve annulus serves as an intermediary location between the heart chamber and the external environment. By positioning the pump within the annulus rather than directly in the chamber, the patent creates a mediating position that allows the pump to influence chamber blood flow without occupying chamber volume, thus resolving the contradiction between pumping support and chamber capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the pump is positioned through a heart valve or vessel, then alternative placement is achieved, but leakage around the pump and damage to the heart valve may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement optionsVSAvoidvalve function

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pump attachment device is designed with sealing elements and attachment structures that are prepared in advance to prevent leakage and protect the valve. The device includes pre-configured sealing surfaces and attachment mechanisms that are engaged during implantation to secure the pump within the annulus while maintaining valve integrity and preventing blood leakage around the pump.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pump attachment device incorporates localized sealing structures and protective elements at specific contact points with the valve annulus. These localized features provide enhanced sealing and protection precisely where the pump interfaces with the valve structure, preventing leakage and damage while allowing the rest of the valve to function normally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the pump is positioned through a heart valve, then placement outside the chamber is achieved, but stabilization of the pump within the anatomy becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement optionsVSAvoidpump stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pump attachment device is segmented into multiple components including attachment elements, sealing rings, and anchoring structures that can be independently engaged with different portions of the valve annulus. This segmentation allows the device to distribute stabilization forces across multiple attachment points, securing the pump firmly within the annulus while maintaining placement flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pump attachment device incorporates curved or annular structures that conform to the natural curvature of the heart valve annulus. This geometric adaptation allows the device to fit snugly within the annular space, providing stable positioning through geometric interlocking and distributed contact forces that resist displacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

This approach allows for effective blood pumping while maintaining valve function and reducing tissue contact, providing a wider range of patients with a viable alternative placement method that enhances blood flow and reduces complications.

Implementation Method 1

the pump attachment device is also adapted to form a seal between the exterior of the pump and the native valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

a rotor within the flow path, a stator within the casing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP2707053B1Intravascular blood pump and method of implantation

Publication Date: 2016.11.30 HEARTWARE INC

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Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

A blood pump is implantable within the vasculature, such as within the pulmonary artery. The pump may project through a native valve such as the pulmonary valve. In use, the pump opposes retrograde flow and thus acts as a replacement for the native valve. The pump may be an axial flow pump having a generally tubular housing adapted to fit within the space proximal to the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery while projecting only slightly proximally of the annulus of the native pulmonary valve.