Implantable Flow Restriction Stent for Renal Perfusion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases experience excess fluid buildup due to under-perfused kidneys, leading to fluid accumulation and worsening symptoms, which current pharmaceutical treatments like diuretics may not adequately address, especially with drug resistance, side effects, or improper dosing.
Innovation Solution
Implantable medical devices are used to manipulate renal blood flow hemodynamics by redirecting blood flow to the kidneys, increasing perfusion and enhancing diuresis through flow restriction devices in the aorta or vena cava, thereby increasing kidney function and reducing fluid overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pharmaceutical treatments like diuretics are used to manage excess fluid buildup, then fluid removal can be achieved, but patients may experience drug resistance, unwanted side effects, or inappropriate dosing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pharmaceutical chemical mechanisms with a mechanical hemodynamic device that physically redirects blood flow. The flow restriction device creates a pressure gradient to divert blood away from the kidneys, using mechanical fluid dynamics instead of chemical diuretic action to achieve fluid removal, thereby avoiding drug resistance and side effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flow restriction device as an intermediary between the aorta and kidneys. This device mediates the blood flow by creating a controlled restriction that redirects blood away from the renal arteries, serving as a non-pharmaceutical intermediary mechanism to achieve the same fluid removal effect as diuretics without their harmful side effects.
2Productivity
If flow restriction devices are implanted in the aorta or vena cava to redirect blood flow to the kidneys, then renal perfusion and diuresis are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow restriction device is segmented into distinct functional components: a body portion with a flow restriction element and a separate adjustable portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the overall device architecture and facilitating easier implantation and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates an adjustable portion that can be dynamically modified after implantation. This dynamic feature allows the device to adapt to changing patient needs by adjusting the flow restriction level, thereby enhancing renal perfusion and diuresis productivity while maintaining a relatively simple base device structure that can be optimized through adjustment rather than complex design.
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 devices enhance renal perfusion and diuresis, reducing fluid accumulation and pressure in the body, providing a non-pharmaceutical alternative that complements or augments pharmaceutical treatments, avoiding invasive procedures and complications.
Implementation Method 1
manipulate renal blood flow hemodynamics by redirecting blood flow to the kidneys, increasing perfusion
Implementation Method 2
enhancing diuresis through flow restriction devices in the aorta or vena cava, thereby increasing kidney function
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An implantable medical device for altering blood flow in a vessel of a patient, the device including a stent element and a graft component attached to at least a portion of the stent element. The stent element and the graft component include a restricting portion configured to direct flow into one or more side branches off the vessel, and an anchor portion to arrange an inlet of the restricting portion approximately centrally within the vessel.