Intraventricular Cardiac Pump With Narrowed Outlet Head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heart pumps are not adaptable to varying heart sizes and conditions, particularly dilated hearts, and struggle to efficiently complement or replace natural blood flow in heart failure scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A ventricular assist pump with a narrowed outlet head of 14 to 16 mm diameter and a flared upper body of 17 to 20 mm diameter, combined with a propulsion chamber and blades, ensures effective blood flow to the aorta regardless of heart size or condition, accommodating both induced and natural flows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the outlet head diameter is increased to accommodate larger hearts, then the pump can handle larger heart sizes, but the pump cannot be effectively positioned close to the aorta without coming into contact
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet head features a narrowed diameter (14-16mm) specifically at the critical interface with the aorta, while the upper body maintains a larger diameter (17-20mm) for propulsion chamber accommodation. This localized dimensional variation allows the pump to be positioned close to the aorta without contact while maintaining adaptability to different heart sizes.
2Length of stationary object
If the outlet head diameter is decreased to position closer to the aorta, then the pump can be positioned closer to the aorta, but the natural flow passage is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet head diameter is optimized to a specific range (14-16mm) that balances two competing requirements: being small enough to position close to the aorta without contact, yet large enough to allow sufficient passage of natural blood flow. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between positioning proximity and flow passage adequacy.
3Volume of stationary object
If the upper body diameter is increased to accommodate propulsion means, then the propulsion chamber can accommodate propulsion means, but the overall pump size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper body maintains a larger diameter (17-20mm) only in the specific region where the propulsion chamber is located, while the outlet head transitions to a narrowed diameter (14-16mm). This localized volume allocation allows accommodation of propulsion means without proportionally increasing the overall pump volume.
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 pump effectively positions near the aorta without obstructing natural flow, ensuring powerful induced flow to complement or replace heart function, suitable for both dilated and non-dilated hearts, and various sizes.
Implementation Method 1
The propulsion chamber can be in the form of a right circular cylinder... the outlet head may, for example, include blades, the set of blades constituting a rectifier capable of increasing the speed and giving the fluid a predetermined profile at the outlet
Data Source
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AI summary
Cardiac pump intended to be positioned in a ventricle of a heart and to generate an induced flow of fluid in the direction of sigmoid valves; this pump comprising: - a fixed housing equipped with an upper part forming a propulsion chamber for propelling the fluid towards the upper end, and a lower part, - at least one lateral opening located between the upper part and the lower part and forming an admission chamber for admitting the fluid from the outside towards the propulsion chamber, - a motor unit disposed inside the housing in order to drive the fluid from the lateral opening to the outlet of the propulsion chamber. The propulsion chamber comprises an upper body and an outlet head, the outlet head having an external cross section that is narrowed in relation to an external cross section of the upper body.