Pulsatile Ventricular Assist Device Peristaltic Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventricular assist devices suffer from blood clotting issues, leading to complications such as strokes and claudication, due to their design limitations.
Innovation Solution
A tubular pulsatile ventricular assist device system that creates pulsatile, peristaltic, and non-hemolytic blood flow by using inflatable wedges activated by a microcontroller to occlude a tubular structure, reducing shear forces and backflow, and maintaining red blood cell integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous flow rotary blood pumps are used, then forward flow is provided, but blood clotting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by using a pulsatile pump mechanism that cycles between filling and ejecting blood in rhythmic pulses. This periodic operation mimics natural heart contraction, creating alternating pressure waves that prevent blood stasis and reduce clotting risk while maintaining effective forward flow through the aorta.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies dynamics by transitioning from continuous flow to pulsatile flow, where the pump characteristics dynamically change over time. The pump creates varying flow rates and pressures during each cardiac cycle, allowing the system to adapt to physiological requirements and reduce turbulent flow patterns that promote clotting.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If pulsatile flow is created, then blood clotting is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a peristaltic pumping mechanism as a mediator between the power source and the blood flow system. This intermediary device converts electrical signals into mechanical peristaltic movements that generate pulsatile flow, thereby reducing clotting while managing system complexity through a well-established mechanical principle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies mechanics substitution by replacing complex electronic flow control systems with a mechanical peristaltic pumping mechanism. This substitution uses inherent mechanical properties of the pump to generate pulsatile flow patterns, simplifying the overall system architecture while achieving the desired physiological effect of reduced blood clotting.
3Productivity
If peristaltic movement is applied, then pulsatile flow is achieved, but shear forces increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the peristaltic constriction at a specific location within the pump chamber rather than applying uniform compression throughout. This localized constriction creates a focused pumping action that generates pulsatile flow while minimizing the overall shear force exposure of blood to mechanical stress, thereby reducing hemolysis risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses parameter changes by carefully controlling the timing, magnitude, and duration of peristaltic contractions to optimize flow characteristics. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves effective pulsatile flow while keeping shear forces within safe limits to prevent red blood cell damage and hemolysis.
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 system effectively reduces blood clotting, promotes pulsatile flow, minimizes turbulent flow, and accommodates blood vessel stretching, providing clinical advantages like reduced thrombolysis and hemolysis, while maintaining sterility and reducing the risk of infection.
Implementation Method 1
The system provides forward flow of blood in a pulsatile, peristaltic, and non-hemolytic manner by creating various parametric movements along the length of its tubular structure
Implementation Method 2
When an inflatable wedge is in the expanded position, it can press against the membrane to move the membrane toward the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A tubular pulsatile ventricular assist device (PVAD) system for providing forward flow of blood in a pulsatile, peristaltic, and non-hemolytic manner to help reduce the amount of blood clotting associated with current ventricular devices on the market. The system can encircle a portion of a blood vessel, and the system can sequentially apply a pressure through each port in a particular pre-determined patter so as to selectively occlude the lumen, thereby creating a pulsatile, peristaltic movement along a length of system. Said movement causes blood to flow through the portion of the blood vessel.