Pump-Outlet Tube Centering in the Aorta for Stable Blood Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventricular assist devices face challenges in effectively centering and stabilizing the delivery tube within the aorta, which affects the efficiency of blood flow and the overall performance of the device.
Innovation Solution
An expandable element, such as a stent, braided element, or inflatable balloon, is used to surround the delivery tube proximal to the blood-outlet openings, ensuring the tube is centered within the aorta by contacting the aortic wall, and an impeller is placed within the pump-outlet tube to pump blood proximally through the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the delivery tube is inserted through the aorta into the left ventricle, then the device can pump blood, but the delivery tube cannot be effectively centered and stabilized within the aorta
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable element is deployed preliminarily to center and stabilize the delivery tube within the aorta before the pump-outlet tube is fully positioned. This preliminary action ensures proper alignment and stability of the delivery tube, preventing displacement during subsequent implantation steps and blood pumping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable element acts as an intermediary component between the delivery tube and the aortic wall. It provides a stable interface that centers the delivery tube and transfers positioning forces, enabling reliable stabilization without requiring direct complex anchoring mechanisms on the delivery tube itself.
2Reliability
If the expandable element is positioned proximal to the blood-outlet openings, then the delivery tube is centered in the aorta, but the space for blood flow is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable element is designed with localized expansion characteristics, expanding only in the proximal region where centering is needed while leaving the distal blood-outlet openings area unaffected. This local quality approach ensures stability where required without compromising blood flow area where it is critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump-outlet tube is segmented into distinct functional zones: the proximal section with the expandable element for centering and stabilization, and the distal section with blood-outlet openings for blood flow. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its function independently, maintaining both positioning stability and adequate blood flow area.
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 expandable element effectively centers the delivery tube, enhancing blood flow and the device's performance by maintaining the tube's position within the aorta, thereby improving the ventricular assist function.
Implementation Method 1
the expandable element is configured to center a portion of the ventricular assist device (e.g., a portion of the delivery tube and, in particular, the portion of the delivery tube near the pump-outlet tube) within the aorta, by contacting the aorta wall
Implementation Method 2
An impeller is disposed within the distal portion of the pump-outlet tube and is configured to pump blood of the subject proximally through the pump-outlet tube
Implementation Method 3
the distal end of the inflatable element may have a width that decreases moving distally, e.g., the distal end may be frustoconical, such that the blood is directed by the distal end of the inflatable element, at an angle, through the blood-outlet openings
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a pump-outlet tube shaped to define one or more blood-outlet openings and configured for insertion into a subject's left ventricle, such that the blood-outlet openings are disposed within the subject's aorta and a distal portion of the pump-outlet tube is disposed within the left ventricle. An impeller is disposed within the pump-outlet tube and is configured to pump blood of the subject proximally through the pump-outlet tube. A delivery tube extends from outside the subject's body to the distal portion of the pump-outlet tube. An expandable element surrounds the delivery tube proximally to the blood-outlet openings, a length of the delivery tube between the expandable element and the blood-outlet openings being less than 30 mm. Other applications are also described.