IVC Implant Flow Redirection for Renal Vein Pressure Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for cardiac dysfunction, congestive heart failure, low renal blood flow, high renal vascular resistance, arterial hypertension, and kidney dysfunction are inadequate in effectively reducing pressure in the renal veins and improving kidney perfusion.
Innovation Solution
An inferior vena cava (IVC) implant with a tubular body that transitions from a compressed delivery configuration to an expanded deployment configuration, featuring indentations and blocking surfaces to redirect and increase blood flow velocity, utilizing the Venturi effect to reduce pressure in the renal veins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blood-impermeable sleeve is placed within the vena cava to occlude blood flow from renal veins, then blood flow isolation is achieved, but the complexity of the device and difficulty of delivery increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex blood-impermeable sleeve structure and replaces it with a simpler mesh implant that achieves the same blood flow isolation function through its configuration and deployment mechanism, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the mesh structure (such as opening size, mesh density, and expansion ratio) to achieve effective blood flow isolation without requiring complex impermeable materials, thereby simplifying the device while maintaining functional reliability
2Stress or pressure
If the IVC implant is designed to block blood flow through the center of the vena cava, then pressure reduction in renal veins is achieved, but the risk of thrombus formation and embolism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating asymmetric mesh openings that are strategically positioned to allow blood flow in specific regions while maintaining pressure reduction in the renal vein area, thus achieving the therapeutic effect without creating harmful flow patterns that lead to thrombus formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of flow disruption into a benefit by designing the mesh configuration to intentionally create controlled flow patterns that reduce renal vein pressure while maintaining sufficient flow through the IVC to prevent thrombus formation and embolism
3Stress or pressure
If the mesh opening is made small to reduce pressure effectively, then pressure reduction is improved, but the delivery difficulty and risk of vessel damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing a deliverable mesh configuration that can be compressed into a small profile for easy delivery through the catheter, then expands to its functional configuration in the IVC, allowing small effective openings to be delivered without causing vessel damage during the delivery process
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 IVC implant effectively reduces blood pressure in the renal veins and increases kidney perfusion by enhancing blood flow velocity through the Venturi effect, providing therapeutic benefits for cardiac and renal conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the velocity of blood flow in the IVC areas is greater than upstream of the tubular implant body, and greater than if the IVC implant were not provided. This increased velocity of blood flow causes a reduction in blood pressure in the IVC areas, as a result of the Venturi effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An inferior vena cava (IVC) implant (20) includes a tubular implant body (40), which is configured such that when implanted in an expanded deployment configuration in the IVC in the vicinity of the renal junctions, (a) has a generally tubular shape (42), (b) has an upstream and downstream ends (44, 46), and (c) is shaped so as to define: (i) two indentations (48) on opposite sides of the tubular implant body (40), which are shaped so as to allow blood flow in the two indentations (48) from upstream (50) of the tubular implant body (40) to downstream (52) of the tubular implant body (40), and (ii) one or more surfaces (54) that at least partially block blood flow through an interior of the tubular implant body (40) from upstream (50) of the tubular implant body to downstream (52) of the tubular implant body (40). Other embodiments are also described.