Pulsatile Ventricle Unloading for Heart-Synchronized Blood Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventricular assist devices (VADs) fail to synchronize with the natural heart rhythm, leading to ineffective and unsafe physiological recovery of the heart, and may increase left ventricle post-load, potentially causing the heart to lose its ability to recover.
Innovation Solution
A ventricle unloading device with a stator, rotor, and static anchoring element is implanted inside a blood vessel, featuring a pulsatile activation synchronized with the patient's heart contraction, optimizing blood flow mechanics and reducing hemolysis while maximizing workload off the heart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a VAD is used to support heart function, then blood flow is improved, but the heart may lose its ability to recover due to increased left ventricle post load
Solution Approach 1:
The VAD operates in a pulsatile mode synchronized with the natural heart rhythm, creating periodic blood flow assistance rather than continuous flow. This periodic action allows the heart to experience natural pressure variations that maintain its pumping function and recovery capability while still providing adequate blood flow support.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the operational parameters of blood flow by introducing pulsatile flow characteristics with varying pressure and flow rate that mimic natural cardiac cycles. This parameter change from continuous to pulsatile flow enables the heart to maintain its physiological function and recovery ability while receiving mechanical assistance.
2Productivity
If continuous flow mode is used in VAD, then pumping efficiency is improved, but physiological recovery of the heart is ineffective and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from continuous flow to pulsatile flow by implementing periodic activation of the impeller that synchronizes with the cardiac cycle. This periodic action restores physiological blood flow patterns that are essential for heart recovery while maintaining adequate pumping efficiency through optimized pulse timing and intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the continuous mechanical pumping system with a pulsatile pumping system that mimics natural cardiac mechanics. This substitution introduces physiological variability in flow and pressure that continuous systems cannot provide, enabling effective heart recovery while maintaining pumping efficiency through synchronized operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the impeller is contained within a housing, then structural stability is improved, but hemolysis increases due to restricted blood flow
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the impeller from its traditional enclosed housing and places it directly in the blood flow path within the aorta. This extraction eliminates the restrictive housing that caused hemolysis while the impeller's own structure and the aortic wall provide necessary structural stability. The impeller rotates freely in the blood flow without contact with confining surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses the flexible aortic wall as a natural containment structure instead of a rigid housing. The aorta's flexible membrane allows unrestricted blood flow around the impeller while providing structural stability, eliminating the hemolysis problem caused by rigid enclosures.
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 device enhances heart recovery by minimizing hemolysis and thrombosis risks, preserving cardiac architecture, and reducing the heart's workload, allowing for earlier disease intervention and rehabilitation.
Implementation Method 1
The activation of the rotor is a pulsatile activation and that said activation is synchronized with the patient's heart contraction
Data Source
AI summary
A ventricle unloading device intended to be implanted inside a patient's blood vessel portion through which a blood flow circulates. The device includes: a stator, a rotor arranged around the stator, the rotor having a driving impeller and a impeller engine, the impeller being an unducted impeller aimed at rotating freely within the blood vessel portion, and a static anchoring element displaying a circular part which is configured to extend around the impeller. The circular part of the static anchoring element defines a circulation area intended to contain the entire blood flow circulating through the blood vessel portion, the activation of the rotor is a pulsatile activation, and the activation is synchronized with the patient's heart contraction.