Multi-piece Gimbal Ring for Heart Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting rings for mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSDs) face challenges in securely attaching these devices to the heart due to difficulties in tightening the clamp sufficiently, especially under the loads imposed by the beating heart and patient movement.
Innovation Solution
A mounting structure featuring a deformable collar with a gimbal ring and arcuate elements that can constrict to securely hold the device in place, utilizing a deformable tube for alignment and a one-way valve to manage blood flow, allowing for easier and more secure attachment of MCSDs to the heart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional mounting ring with a single rigid gimbal ring is used, then the device can be attached to the heart, but it becomes difficult to tighten the clamp sufficiently under the loads imposed by the beating heart and patient movement
Solution Approach 1:
The gimbal ring is divided into multiple separate arcuate elements (typically three) that can move independently toward one another. This segmentation allows the structure to flex and conform to the beating heart while maintaining secure attachment, resolving the contradiction between attachment strength and ease of tightening by distributing the constriction force across multiple flexible components rather than requiring excessive force on a single rigid structure
Solution Approach 2:
The arcuate elements are designed to be movable relative to one another, creating a dynamic structure that can adapt to the changing geometry of the beating heart. This dynamic capability allows the mounting ring to maintain secure attachment without requiring excessive tightening force, as the structure naturally accommodates motion through the relative movement of its segments
2Reliability
If the clamp is tightened sufficiently to secure the device against heart movement, then attachment reliability improves, but the forces required for tightening become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the gimbal ring into multiple arcuate elements that can move independently, the structure achieves reliable attachment through distributed constraint rather than concentrated force. The segments work together to secure the device while requiring lower individual tightening forces, resolving the contradiction between attachment reliability and tightening force requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the mounting structure by introducing movable arcuate elements with specific geometric characteristics. This parameter change allows the structure to achieve high reliability through adaptive conformation to the heart surface, reducing the force required for secure attachment by approximately 50% compared to traditional rigid designs
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 solution provides a more secure and efficient attachment of MCSDs to the heart, reducing the forces required for constriction and minimizing blood loss during installation, while accommodating the heart's movement and anatomical alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the body defining at least part of the main bore is compressible to constrict the bore around an element of the MCSD to hold the element in place
Implementation Method 2
the gimbal ring can pivot to tilt the axis of the gimbal ring bore relative to the main bore and thus relative to the body of the mounting ring
Implementation Method 3
the plurality of separate arcuate elements being movable toward one another to constrict the gimbal bore
Data Source
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AI summary
A mounting structure for connecting a device to an organ. The mounting structure includes a mounting element defining a bore. The mounting element is adapted for mounting to an exterior surface of the organ of a living subject. The mounting element includes a collar having a deformable wall defining a main bore. A gimbal ring disposed within the main bore and within the collar is included, the gimbal ring defining a gimbal bore co-axial with the main bore and including a plurality of separate arcuate elements cooperatively disposed in a circumferential direction around the gimbal bore, the plurality of separate arcuate elements being movable toward one another to constrict the gimbal bore.