Sutureless Flow Cannula Assembly for Co-Pulsatile HFpEF Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mechanical circulatory support systems, such as LVADs, are ineffective for treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) due to their design being suited for systolic heart failure, and they often cause right heart failure and have limited applicability for patients with restricted left ventricular cavity dimensions.

Innovation Solution

A sutureless flow cannula assembly with a deformable polymeric conduit, embedded stent reinforcement, and a co-pulsatile blood pump system that mimics the native heart's rhythm, providing support during both systole and diastole, with seamless and secure attachment to the heart using male and female fasteners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional LVAD systems are used for systolic heart failure, then cardiac output is improved, but they cause right heart failure and are ineffective for HFpEF patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecardiac outputVSAvoidright heart failure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blood pump operates in a periodic co-pulsatile manner, providing blood flow support during both systole and diastole phases of the cardiac cycle. This periodic action mimics natural heart function and addresses both systolic and diastolic heart failure, preventing right heart failure while improving cardiac output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If suture-based flow cannula attachment is used, then secure connection is achieved, but surgical trauma and implantation time are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection securityVSAvoidsurgical trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional suture-based mechanical attachment system with a sutureless fastening mechanism. The flow cannula incorporates a fastener assembly that provides secure connection to the ventricle without requiring sutures, thereby reducing surgical trauma and implantation time while maintaining connection security

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If seamless flow cannula design is used, then hemostasis is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehemostasisVSAvoidcannula fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flow cannula is designed as a seamless tubular structure without sutures or joints at the ventricular interface. This seamless design eliminates potential leak points and improves hemostasis, while the manufacturing complexity is managed through integrated molding of the cannula and fastener components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12350484B2Implantable co-pulsatile epi-ventricular circulatory support system with sutureless flow cannula assembly

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 3R LIFE SCIENCES CORP

AI summary

An implantable circulatory support system, configured to connect a ventricular chamber of a heart, including a valveless displacement blood pump, a deformable polymeric flow cannula, a pair of male and female fasteners, a coupler, a driveline assembly, and a co-pulsatile driver. Forward and backward flow communication between the blood pump and the heart chamber is accomplished using the present flow cannula invention which is anastomosed to the heart chamber in a sutureless manner. When providing circulatory support, the co-pulsatile driver ejects blood out of the blood pump during systolic ventricular contraction and fills the blood pump with blood during diastolic ventricular relaxation.