Tissue-Engineered Heart Valves Using Autologous Muscle Tissue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heart disease treatments, such as replacement valves and electronic devices, are not durable and can cause mechanical or chemical damage, leading to complications like thrombogenesis, infection, and the need for daily anticoagulant or immunosuppressive therapy.
Innovation Solution
Development of tissue-engineered pumps and valves that mimic the human heart's function using synthetic muscular tissue, which can be custom-sized and do not require a motor, incorporating engineered anisotropic muscle tissue and polymeric fiber scaffolds seeded with cells to enable fluid flow and contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If replacement valves and electronic devices are used to treat heart disease, then patient survival is improved, but durability and efficiency deteriorate due to mechanical damage, thrombogenesis, and need for daily therapy
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue-engineered heart valve is constructed from patient's own cells (autologous cells) that self-organize and mature into functional valve tissue, eliminating the need for external power sources, mechanical components, or daily therapeutic interventions. The living cells continuously maintain and repair the valve structure themselves
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces mechanical pump systems and electronic devices with a biologically-based system where living muscle cells generate contractile force to drive blood flow, eliminating mechanical wear, shear stress, and associated thrombogenesis problems
2Duration of action of moving object
If currently available devices are used, then patient life is extended, but efficiency and durability worsen due to mechanical or shear-induced cell lysis and material-dependent thrombogenesis
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is constructed entirely from biocompatible living tissue derived from the patient's own cells, creating a homogeneous structure that is fully compatible with blood and surrounding tissues, eliminating material interfaces that cause thrombogenesis and cell damage
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure of living muscle cells, extracellular matrix, and scaffold materials that work together to create a functional valve, combining the benefits of structural support with the advantages of living tissue repair and adaptation
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
These tissue-engineered pumps and valves provide a durable and efficient alternative for heart function, reducing the risk of complications associated with existing devices and eliminating the need for daily therapy, while accurately mimicking the heart's function.
Implementation Method 1
an energy source for stimulating a collection of cells within the engineered tissue to cause contraction of a volume of the cavity
Implementation Method 2
polymeric fiber scaffolds seeded with cells to enable fluid flow and contraction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides tissue-engineered pumps and valves, methods of fabricating such pumps and valves, and methods of use of such pumps and valves.