Left Ventricle Unloading Device with Pulsatile Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventricular assist devices (VADs) do not effectively synchronize with the natural heart rhythm, leading to suboptimal physiological recovery of the heart and potential damage due to increased left ventricle post load.
Innovation Solution
A ventricle unloading device is serially implanted in the ascending aorta, utilizing a static anchoring element and an impeller system synchronized with the patient's natural blood flow to optimize blood flow mechanics, reduce hemolysis, and minimize heart workload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a VAD is used to assist the left ventricle, then blood flow support is improved, but the left ventricle post load increases causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediatory element (balloon or mesh cage) between the VAD pump and the left ventricle. This intermediary structure allows the pump to assist blood flow while the mediator prevents direct transmission of high pressure to the ventricle, thus supporting productivity while reducing harmful stress on the heart muscle.
Solution Approach 2:
The VAD system is segmented into distinct functional components: the pump unit, the mediatory element (balloon or mesh), and the ventricular interface. This segmentation allows the pump to operate independently for blood flow support while the mediator handles the pressure management function, resolving the contradiction between providing adequate flow and preventing excessive post load.
2Productivity
If a bypass system is implanted in parallel with the left ventricle, then blood flow is improved, but the heart loses its ability to recover
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic mediatory element (balloon that can inflate/deflate or mesh that can expand/contract) to modulate the bypass flow. This dynamic structure allows the system to adapt to heart recovery progress, gradually reducing assistance as the heart improves, thereby maintaining blood flow support while preserving the heart's ability to recover.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor heart function and adjust the mediatory element's state accordingly. As the heart recovers, the feedback system reduces the bypass flow through the mediator, allowing the heart to take over more work while maintaining adequate blood flow, thus resolving the contradiction between immediate flow support and long-term recovery.
3Productivity
If conventional VADs are used, then blood flow is supported, but synchronization with natural heart rhythm is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic mediatory element that can change its state in response to heart rhythm. The balloon or mesh structure can expand and contract synchronously with cardiac cycles, allowing the VAD to provide blood flow support while adapting to the natural rhythm, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining productivity and achieving adaptability to heart rhythm.
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 enables physiological recovery of the heart by unloading the left ventricle while preserving cardiac architecture, reducing hemolysis and thrombosis risks, and maximizing workload offloading with minimal invasive implantation.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a static anchoring element and an impeller system synchronized with the patient's natural blood flow to optimize blood flow mechanics
Implementation Method 2
The impeller (20) comprises a hub (24) and at least one blade (26) displaying an attachment area (28) to the hub (24). The impeller (20) rotates around said stator (X').
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a ventricle unloading device intended to be implanted inside a patient's blood vessel portion through which a blood flow circulates. It comprises: - a stator, - a rotor (12) arranged around the stator and comprising a driving impeller (20) and a impeller engine, the impeller (20) being an unducted impeller aimed at rotating freely within the blood vessel portion, - a static anchoring element displaying a circular part which is configured to extend around the impeller (20). The circular part of the static anchoring element defines a circulation area intended to contain the entire blood flow circulating through the blood vessel portion, and the activation of the rotor (12) is a pulsatile activation and said activation is synchronized with the patient's heart contraction.