Thoracic Duct Lymph Drainage Using Cyclic Vena Cava Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for edema, such as intravascular pumps, pose risks of thrombosis, clotting, and hemolysis, and do not effectively restore lymph flow to healthy rates and volumes.
Innovation Solution
The use of inflatable balloons or similar restriction devices to create transient impediments to blood flow in the vena cava, promoting active transport of lymph out of the thoracic duct into systemic circulation without mechanical pumps, utilizing a series of transient impediment and relief episodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If intravascular pumps are used to restore blood flow, then blood flow is improved, but thrombosis, clotting, and hemolysis occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pump system with a physiological system using the heart's natural pumping action combined with a catheter-based occlusion and release mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for extracorporeal mechanical pumps that cause thrombosis and hemolysis, while still achieving the goal of restoring blood flow through controlled occlusion and release cycles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a catheter with occlusion balloons as an intermediary device between the heart and the blocked vessel. This intermediary allows controlled manipulation of blood flow through occlusion and release cycles without requiring direct mechanical pumping, thereby avoiding the harmful effects of mechanical pumps while still achieving flow restoration
2Productivity
If mechanical pumps are used to treat edema, then lymph flow is improved, but device complexity and bio-incompatibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical lymph pumps with a simpler catheter-based system that uses controlled occlusion and release cycles. This simpler mechanism achieves lymph flow restoration by utilizing the body's own physiological pressures and the natural elastic recoil of vessels, eliminating the need for complex mechanical pumping components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a self-service mechanism where the body's own physiological systems (heart pumping, vascular elasticity, pressure gradients) are harnessed to drive lymph flow. The catheter system merely provides controlled occlusion and release, allowing the body's natural mechanisms to perform the work of lymph transport without requiring external mechanical power sources
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
Restores lymph flow to healthy rates and volumes, effectively treating edema and acute decompensated heart failure without the risks associated with mechanical pumps.
Implementation Method 1
The system uses inflatable balloons or similar devices, an active pump is created in the area of the venous angle that causes lymph to flow out of the thoracic duct
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of occlusion balloons configured to occlude a plurality of veins upstream and downstream of a lymphatic duct so as to isolate a volume of space in the region of the lymphatic duct
Implementation Method 3
when the volumetric balloons are deflated, the volume of space is depressurized, which urges lymph through a valve outlet of the lymphatic duct
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides methods and devices that improve the flow of lymph without the use of a rotating mechanical pump. Systems and methods of the disclosure use inflatable balloons or similar restriction devices to transiently create impediments to flow in the vena cava. When those transient impediments are removed, the rush of blood to restore flow creates a localized zone of low pressure at an outlet of a lymph duct and lymph out of the lymph duct. Another episode of transient impediment is created and relieved, which encourages additional lymph flow. Using a device such as an inflatable balloon, a series of such episodes may be provided. For example, by causing about ten to twenty episodes of transient impediment and relief, lymph flow may be restored to normal rates and volumes.