Pulmonary-Aortic Shunt Pump for Subsystemic Hypertension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for pulmonary hypertension, such as atrial septostomy and Potts shunt procedures, are limited in effectively reducing pulmonary pressure in patients with subsystemic hypertension, as they either risk chronic hypoxemia or are ineffective due to pressure differences between pulmonary and systemic circulations.
Innovation Solution
Establishing an anastomosis between the pulmonary artery and the aorta, using a pump to facilitate blood flow from the pulmonary artery to the aorta when the pulmonary artery pressure is lower, and employing a pulsatile cuff or constant flow pump to ensure blood flow, thereby reducing pulmonary pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a Potts shunt procedure is used to create a connection between the left pulmonary artery and the descending aorta, then decompression of the right ventricle is achieved by allowing deoxygenated blood to bypass the pulmonary capillaries, but the procedure is ineffective when pulmonary artery pressure is lower than aortic pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pump as an intermediary device to facilitate blood flow from the pulmonary artery to the aorta when natural pressure gradient is insufficient. The pump acts as a mediator that overcomes the pressure difference barrier, enabling shunt functionality in subsystemic hypertension cases where conventional passive shunts fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pressure parameter relationship by using an active pump to create flow against the pressure gradient. Instead of relying on passive pressure-driven flow (where pulmonary pressure must exceed aortic pressure), the pump actively generates the necessary pressure differential to drive blood through the shunt in reverse or low-gradient conditions.
2Stress or pressure
If an atrial septostomy is performed to create a connection between the right and left atria, then preload of the right ventricle is reduced, but chronic hypoxemia occurs as oxygen-desaturated blood travels to the systemic circulatory system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a localized shunt connection specifically between the pulmonary artery and aorta, rather than between atria. This localized approach allows selective decompression of the pulmonary circulation without creating a mixing chamber that would allow deoxygenated blood to enter systemic circulation, thus avoiding hypoxemia while still reducing right ventricular workload.
3Ease of operation
If a pump is used to facilitate blood flow from the pulmonary artery to the aorta when pulmonary artery pressure is lower, then blood flow is ensured in subsystemic hypertension, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a multi-functional system where the pump serves multiple purposes: it facilitates blood flow through the shunt, provides adjustable flow control, and can be tuned to work across different pressure gradients. This universal design allows the same device to handle both suprasystemic and subsystemic hypertension cases, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices.
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 described methods effectively decrease pulmonary pressure, reduce right ventricle afterload, and prevent right heart failure by routing blood from the pulmonary circulation to the systemic circulation without compromising oxygen saturation to critical organs.
Implementation Method 1
pumping blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta when the pulmonary artery has a lower pressure than a pressure of the aorta
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating a patient may include establishing an anastomosis between a pulmonary artery and an aorta; and pumping blood from the pulmonary artery to the aorta when the pulmonary artery has a pressure lower than or equal to a pressure of the aorta.