Nested Cardiac Compression Device with Passive and Active Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac devices fail to adequately address the mechanical environment of a failing heart, leading to ineffective treatment strategies as the disease progresses, as they often indirectly modulate strain patterns and do not directly correct aberrant motion and remodeling.
Innovation Solution
A Direct Cardiac Compression Device (DCCD) that surrounds the heart with an inner passive chamber and an outer active chamber, using fluid pressure to compress the heart, providing adjustable support and synchronous active assist to modulate cardiac size and motion, while maintaining a non-inverting curvature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If passive constraint devices are used to off-load the heart, then cardiac size is reduced, but the strain pattern is only indirectly modulated and aberrant motion is not directly corrected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inner passive chamber as an intermediary layer between the heart and the outer active chamber. This inner passive chamber directly contacts the heart surface and provides passive constraint during diastole, while the outer active chamber provides active compression during systole. The intermediary inner chamber ensures direct transmission of mechanical forces to the heart, enabling both passive support and active assist functions to be effectively combined.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into two distinct functional chambers: an inner passive chamber for diastolic support and an outer active chamber for systolic compression. This segmentation allows each chamber to independently perform its specific function - the inner chamber provides passive constraint to reduce cardiac size, while the outer chamber delivers active mechanical compression to directly correct aberrant motion patterns.
2Productivity
If active compression is applied to increase cardiac output, then pumping ability is improved, but the mechanical environment may not be adequately addressed leading to continued remodeling
Solution Approach 1:
The device provides continuous mechanical support throughout the entire cardiac cycle by combining passive diastolic constraint with active systolic compression. The inner passive chamber maintains continuous contact with the heart to provide ongoing passive support, while the outer active chamber delivers synchronized active compression during systole. This continuous mechanical intervention stabilizes the mechanical environment and prevents aberrant remodeling while improving cardiac output.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a static passive constraint approach to a dynamic system that actively adapts to the cardiac cycle. The outer active chamber is inflated during systole to provide active compression when the heart contracts, and deflated during diastole to allow the inner passive chamber to provide passive support during filling. This dynamic operation ensures the mechanical environment is continuously optimized for both performance and structural stability.
3Reliability
If multiple chambers are used to provide both passive and active support, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a nested chamber configuration where the inner passive chamber is positioned inside the outer active chamber. Both chambers share a common longitudinal axis and are concentrically arranged around the heart. This nested structure allows the device to provide both passive and active support functions while maintaining a compact, integrated design that minimizes overall device complexity despite the multi-chamber configuration.
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 DCCD effectively shifts the end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship, increases cardiac output, and restores lost stroke work, providing a broader range of therapeutic options for heart failure treatment by directly addressing mechanical factors in cardiac remodeling.
Implementation Method 1
an active fluid disposed in the outer active chamber; an input connection in fluid communication with the outer active chamber to ingress the active fluid into the outer active chamber, and an output connection in fluid communication with the outer active chamber to egress the fluid from the outer active chamber, wherein the active fluid presses on the inner passive chambers to compress the heart
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides methods, systems, kits, and cardiac compression devices that have both passive chambers and active chambers to improve heart function.