Reciprocating Intravascular Blood Pump with Variable Surface Area Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current blood pumps for cardiovascular support, such as intra-aortic balloon pumps, have limitations in effectively enhancing blood flow and circulation, particularly in providing a consistent and efficient mechanism to push blood downstream while minimizing backflow during systole and maximizing coronary flow during diastole.
Innovation Solution
A reciprocating device is deployed in a blood vessel, featuring a pump portion with an anchor and a reciprocating valve that moves in a cylindrical housing, driven by a valve driver to alternate between open and closed configurations, creating different effective surface areas for blood flow management, ensuring efficient blood propulsion downstream while minimizing backflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a reciprocating valve with variable effective surface area is used, then downstream blood flow is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve employs a flexible membrane that dynamically changes its effective surface area in response to pressure differentials during reciprocation. During the forward stroke, the membrane expands to present a larger surface area to blood flow, enhancing propulsion. During the return stroke, the membrane contracts to reduce resistance. This dynamic adaptation is achieved through the inherent elasticity of the membrane material rather than complex mechanical actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve structure utilizes the blood pressure differential itself to control the membrane configuration. The pressure gradient across the valve during reciprocation automatically causes the membrane to assume the appropriate shape without requiring external control systems. The blood flow pressure serves both as the driving force and the control signal for the variable surface area mechanism.
2Productivity
If the reciprocating valve has a large effective surface area for pushing blood downstream, then blood flow enhancement is improved, but resistance to upstream motion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane dynamically adjusts its surface area based on the direction of motion and pressure differential. During the forward pushing stroke, the membrane expands to maximize surface area for blood propulsion. During the return stroke, the membrane contracts or deforms to minimize resistance to upstream motion. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the valve to optimize performance for each phase of reciprocation without being constrained by a fixed geometry.
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 blood flow by creating a larger effective surface area for downstream blood push and a smaller area for upstream motion, effectively supporting heart function by increasing blood flow in the aorta and reducing pressure upstream, thus improving circulatory support.
Implementation Method 1
a reciprocating valve coupled to the anchor and including a set of one or more leaflets... a valve driver configured to drive the reciprocating valve in a reciprocating pattern between (i) a first state in which the leaflets are in an open configuration allowing blood flow through the reciprocating valve, and (ii) a second state in which the leaflets are in a closed configuration inhibiting blood flow through the reciprocating valve
Implementation Method 2
the first effective surface area is larger for pushing blood in the blood vessel than the second effective surface area... when the reciprocating device assumes the first effective surface area, blood is pushed downstream in the blood vessel during downstream motion of the reciprocating device
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus is provided that is configured to be deployed in a lumen of a blood vessel of a subject. The apparatus includes a pump portion, including an anchor configured to engage a wall of the blood vessel in order to maintain the apparatus in place within the blood vessel, and a reciprocating valve coupled to the anchor and including a set of one or more leaflets. A valve driver is configured to drive the reciprocating valve in a reciprocating pattern between (i) a first state in which the leaflets are in an open configuration allowing blood flow through the reciprocating valve, and (ii) a second state in which the leaflets are in a closed configuration inhibiting blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Other embodiments are also described.