Expandable Radial Dilator for Fast ECMO Cannula Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current percutaneous vascular cannula insertion methods, such as axial dilation, are time-consuming, require significant manpower, and pose risks of vascular injury and blood loss due to the need for multiple dilators and high forces applied during the procedure.
Innovation Solution
An expandable-retractable single radial dilator system utilizing shape memory alloy technology for controlled radial dilation and retraction, allowing for fast and minimally invasive insertion of cannulas with reduced risk of injury and blood loss, and enabling single-operator procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If axial dilation technique with serial axial dilators is used, then cannula insertion can be achieved, but operation time is prolonged and manpower requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dilator functions into a single radial dilator device that can perform sequential dilation in one instrument, eliminating the need for multiple separate axial dilators and reducing procedure time
Solution Approach 2:
The radial dilator employs a dynamic expansion mechanism that allows the device to transition from a compressed delivery profile to an expanded dilation profile, enabling single-device sequential dilation across multiple tissue layers
2Ease of operation
If axial dilation with high force is applied, then cannula insertion can be achieved, but risk of vascular injury and vessel rupture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional axial dilation approach by using radial expansion perpendicular to the vessel axis, which distributes force more evenly across tissue layers and reduces the risk of longitudinal vessel rupture
Solution Approach 2:
The radial dilator incorporates a staged expansion design that gradually dilates tissue from subcutaneous layers to vascular entry, cushioning the transition and preventing sudden force application that could cause vessel injury
3Productivity
If multiple serial dilators are used, then cannula insertion can be achieved, but blood loss increases during dilator changes
Solution Approach 1:
By consolidating multiple dilation functions into a single radial dilator device, the patent eliminates repeated punctures and tissue manipulations associated with changing multiple dilators, thereby reducing blood loss
Solution Approach 2:
The radial dilator maintains continuous contact with the guidewire and performs sequential dilation in a single continuous motion, eliminating the discontinuous actions and repeated insertions required by serial dilator changes
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
This solution reduces operation time, minimizes vascular injuries and blood loss, and facilitates the rapid insertion of large cannulas, including during critical situations like out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and ECMO cannulation, while allowing for controlled dilation and retraction to accommodate different cannula sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a dilator comprising: a guidewire; a shape memory alloy tube disposed over the guidewire, the shape memory alloy tube having an initial configuration and an expanded configuration
Implementation Method 2
the shape memory alloy tube having an initial configuration and an expanded configuration transformable between the initial configuration and the expanded configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A dilation system comprising a plurality of springs axially disposed in an elastic tube.