Self-Expanding Cardiac Shell for Minimally Invasive Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical cardiac assist devices require open chest surgery, are complex, and often lead to complications such as strokes, bleeding, and infections due to direct contact with blood, and do not prevent inferior vena cava compromise or axial dislocation, resulting in poor fit and support.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive heart support device with a self-expanding shell and expandable units that apply pressure to the heart, connected via a connector system with pneumatic and electrical lines, allowing for external control and minimizing direct contact with blood vessels, and featuring a pericardial closure to prevent inferior vena cava compromise and ensure proper fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical circulatory support devices are integrated into the patient's circulatory system with direct blood contact, then pumping support function is achieved, but complications such as strokes, bleeding, and infections occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pericardial space as an intermediary environment between the pump and the circulatory system. The pump is positioned in the pericardial space and connected to the circulatory system via a graft anastomosed to the aorta, rather than direct immersion in blood. This intermediary positioning reduces direct blood contact while maintaining pumping support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical circulatory support systems with a simpler configuration: a pump positioned in the pericardial space connected via a single aortic graft, eliminating the need for extensive integration into the circulatory system and reducing mechanical complexity that leads to complications.
2Reliability
If cardiac support devices are implanted through open-chest surgery, then device implantation is achieved, but surgical invasiveness and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pump from the traditional open-chest surgical approach and positions it in the pericardial space, which can be accessed through less invasive procedures. The pump is separated from the need for extensive chest opening and complex surgical integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The pericardial space serves multiple functions: it provides a positioning location for the pump, a containment space that reduces migration risk, and a pathway for connecting to the circulatory system via the aorta, eliminating the need for separate surgical approaches for each function.
3Ease of manufacture
If the device is positioned without preventing axial displacement, then implantation is simplified, but device dislocation occurs leading to poor fit and loss of support function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary positioning actions by anchoring the pump in the pericardial space and securing the aortic graft before final device activation. This preliminary securing prevents axial displacement and ensures proper fit before the device begins its support function.
Solution Approach 2:
The pericardial space acts as an intermediary that provides a stable positioning environment for the pump, preventing axial displacement while allowing for proper device fit and function. The space naturally constrains the pump position without requiring complex fixation mechanisms.
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 provides effective heart support with reduced surgical invasiveness, minimizing complications like strokes and infections, and ensuring proper fit and function by applying mechanical pressure without direct blood contact and preventing inferior vena cava compromise.
Implementation Method 1
a self-expanding shell and casing (7) with at least one expandable unit (71, 72)
Implementation Method 2
The expandable unit can exert pressure on a surface. The expandable unit can be an augmentation unit or a positioning unit.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for supporting the function of a heart. The device comprises a shell and a casing with at least one expandable unit. The expandable unit can exert pressure on a surface. The expandable unit can be an augmentation unit or a positioning unit.