Retrograde Perfusion Catheter for Heart and Brain Resuscitation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing resuscitation methods, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and invasive techniques like open-chest cardiac massage, provide insufficient blood flow to vital organs during cardiac arrest, and selective aortic arch perfusion (SAAP) can lead to volume overload and pulmonary congestion.

Innovation Solution

A catheter is inserted into an arterial vessel, positioned below the heart and brain, expanded to block blood flow, and used for retrograde infusion of substances like oxygenated blood or blood substitutes to enhance perfusion of the heart and brain, with features like balloon catheters, umbrellas, or mechanically expanding spheroids, and feedback systems for precise placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional CPR is performed, then basic resuscitation can be provided, but blood flow to vital organs is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow to vital organsVSAvoidsurvival rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The aorta is segmented into different regions with selective perfusion. The catheter selectively perfuses the aortic arch and its branches (coronary and cerebral arteries) while blocking the descending aorta, creating isolated perfusion zones that deliver blood flow precisely where needed during cardiac arrest

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Perfusion is made local and selective rather than global. The device provides targeted blood flow to the aortic arch, coronary arteries, and cerebral arteries while preventing flow to the descending aorta and peripheral circulation, optimizing oxygen delivery to critical organs during resuscitation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If invasive techniques like open-chest cardiac massage or cardiopulmonary bypass are used, then better blood flow to vital organs can be achieved, but these techniques are too complex for widespread use outside hospitals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow to vital organsVSAvoidcomplexity of resuscitation technique

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex function of cardiopulmonary bypass is extracted and simplified into a single catheter-based device. The SAAP catheter performs selective aortic arch perfusion through a straightforward percutaneous insertion and balloon occlusion mechanism, eliminating the need for open-chest procedures or complex bypass circuits while achieving similar blood flow improvement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A percutaneous catheter serves as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between simple CPR and complex invasive techniques. The catheter can be inserted through a small femoral artery puncture and advanced to the aortic arch, providing sophisticated selective perfusion without requiring open-chest access or complex surgical procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If SAAP is performed with large volumes of protective solution, then perfusion of heart and brain is improved, but volume overload and pulmonary congestion occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperfusion of heart and brainVSAvoidvolume overload and pulmonary congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The circulatory system is segmented into perfused and non-perfused zones. By blocking the descending aorta, the device creates a closed-loop perfusion system where blood flow is directed exclusively to the aortic arch and its branches, preventing volume overload in the lungs while ensuring adequate perfusion to critical organs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Perfusion is localized to specific vascular territories (aortic arch, coronary arteries, cerebral arteries) rather than being distributed systemically. This localized approach ensures that protective solution is delivered precisely where needed without causing volume overload in the pulmonary circulation or other non-target organs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enhances blood flow to vital organs, reducing the risk of volume overload and improving neurologic recovery by providing targeted perfusion with minimal adverse effects.

Implementation Method 1

expanding an expandable portion of the catheter to prevent blood from flowing past the expanded portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical expansion:

Implementation Method 2

infusing a substance retrograde into the artery within the arterial section between the heart and the expanded portion of the catheter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRetrograde infusion:

Data Source

PatentUS12408993B2Systems, devices and methods for resuscitation

Publication Date: 2025.09.09 LAUFER MICHAEL D

AI summary

Methods, devices, systems of resuscitating a patient including accessing an arterial vessel positioning a catheter into the arterial vessel advancing the catheter through the arterial vessel to position it below a vessel supplying blood to a heart and a brain expanding an expandable portion of the catheter to prevent blood from flowing past the expanded portion and infusing a substance retrograde into the artery within the arterial section between the heart and the expanded portion of the catheter.