Transapical Aortic Blood Pump Layout for Higher Flow Output

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transluminally-delivered LV blood pumps are constrained by size, limiting their ability to provide the desired amount of blood flow output.

Innovation Solution

A transapically-delivered LV blood pump is positioned in the ascending aorta, allowing a larger cross-sectional design capable of pumping at least 3 liters of blood per minute, with power and data transmission via a lead through the subclavian artery to a controller or power source, using wireless methods like Transcutaneous Energy Transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If transluminally-delivered LV blood pumps are used, then the implantation procedure is less invasive, but the pump size is constrained and cannot provide the desired amount of blood flow output

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplantation invasivenessVSAvoidblood flow output
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The implantation procedure is divided into two separate accesses: a transapical access for delivering the pump body to achieve high blood flow output, and a transclavicular access for delivering the lead separately. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the pump can be larger for better performance while the lead can be routed through a less invasive path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the ascending aorta as an intermediary pathway to transport the pump from the left ventricle to the aortic valve region. This intermediary space allows the pump to be delivered through the transapical approach without requiring direct manipulation in confined spaces, enabling larger pump designs while maintaining relatively minimally invasive access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If a larger pump is used to provide desired blood flow output, then the blood flow capability is improved, but the implantation procedure becomes more invasive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblood flow outputVSAvoidimplantation invasiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the pump delivery path (transapical for large pump placement) from the lead delivery path (transclavicular for minimal invasion). This allows the pump to be sized for optimal blood flow performance while the lead insertion remains minimally invasive, resolving the contradiction between pump size and implantation invasiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the lead is pulled through the subclavian artery, then power and data transmission is achieved with minimal invasion, but the lead positioning and pump delivery coordination becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission invasivenessVSAvoidlead-pump coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lead is delivered and positioned through the subclavian artery before the pump is fully deployed. This preliminary action allows the electrical connection pathway to be established first, simplifying the coordination of the complex dual-access procedure and ensuring power transmission capability is ready before pump activation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the ascending aorta and aortic valve region as an intermediary space where the pump is temporarily positioned during delivery. This intermediary positioning allows independent delivery of the lead through the subclavian artery and the pump through the transapical approach, reducing the coordination complexity by allowing separate delivery paths to converge at a common destination zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3548109B1Aortic pump devices
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 BERLIN HEART GMBH
  • EP3548109B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3548109B1 patent drawingFigure 1c
  • EP3548109B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~1e

AI summary

A disclosed apparatus or method can include or use a non-transluminally implantantable blood pump housing, which can be sized and shaped to be implanted at an aortic valve of a human subject, the pump housing can include: a pump housing cross-sectional profile size that is larger than is passable via a blood vessel of the human subject; and a power connection, configured for being electrically connected to an intravascular lead that is sized and shaped to extend from the pump housing through a subclavian artery of the human subject.