Lymphatic Drainage Catheter Using Passive Pressure Differentials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heart failure leads to excessive fluid accumulation in interstitial compartments due to elevated blood pressure, causing edema and further weakening the heart, with existing treatments like mechanical pumps risking hemolysis and being complex.
Innovation Solution
A passive drainage system using an intravascular catheter with deployable sealing elements creates a fluid trap around a lymphatic duct outlet, draining lymph to a collection vessel at a lower pressure, isolating it from venous blood without mixing, and optionally enriching protein content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical pumps are used to drain fluid, then drainage effectiveness is improved, but risk of hemolysis and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pumps with a passive drainage system that uses pressure differentials created by the fluid trap and gravity to drain lymph fluid. This eliminates the need for mechanical pumping components, thereby removing the risk of hemolysis associated with mechanical pumps while maintaining effective drainage through the pressure-driven flow system
2Productivity
If mechanical pumps are used to drain fluid, then drainage effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical pumps and replaces them with a passive pressure-driven drainage system using a fluid trap that creates pressure differentials. This substitution removes complex mechanical components while maintaining drainage effectiveness through the simpler pressure differential mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system operates autonomously using the pressure differential created by the fluid trap and gravity to drive lymph fluid drainage. The system self-regulates flow without external mechanical control, eliminating the need for complex pump control systems and reducing overall device complexity
3Productivity
If lymph fluid is drained without isolation, then drainage speed is improved, but valuable bodily fluids are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drainage process into two distinct pathways: the fluid trap isolates and captures lymph fluid containing valuable plasma proteins for retention, while a separate drainage lumen allows rapid removal of less valuable interstitial fluid. This segmentation enables selective fluid management, maintaining drainage speed while preserving valuable bodily components
4Loss of substance
If lymph fluid is isolated from venous blood, then fluid value is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses spatial segmentation within the catheter structure, positioning the fluid trap to capture lymph fluid at the thoracic duct outlet while the drainage lumen remains separate. This anatomical and structural segmentation achieves fluid isolation without requiring complex mechanical isolation systems, maintaining relatively simple device architecture while preserving valuable fluids
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
Effectively relieves edema symptoms by rapidly draining less valuable lymph while preserving valuable bodily fluids, reducing the risk of complications and operational complexity, and providing life-saving interventions for heart failure patients.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid trap presents a pressure differential by means of a connection (via a drainage lumen) to a collection vessel that is maintained at a pressure that is effective to promote the flow of lymph from the duct
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices and methods of the disclosure use an intravascular catheter with deployable sealing elements to create a fluid trap around an outlet of a lymphatic duct and drain lymph passively to a collection vessel that may be pressurized to a predetermined pressure or a partial vacuum. Due to the fixed pressure, the device creates a low-pressure area at the lymphatic duct, which drains lymph passively without any mechanical pump or impeller. In certain aspects, a device includes a catheter for insertion into a vein of the venous angle of a patient, with proximal and distal sealing elements deployable to seal the vein to thereby define a fluid trap around the lymphatic outlet. A port within the fluid trap opens to a drainage lumen extending along the catheter to a collection vessel. The device may be configured such that the drainage lumen passively drains the fluid trap into the collection vessel.