Twist-Occludable Flow Cannula for Minimally Invasive Blood Pump Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood pumps require invasive procedures for complete removal, leading to risks of severe bleeding and tissue irritation due to bulky clamps and potential blood leaks from the flow cannula.
Innovation Solution
A flow cannula designed with a distal, proximal, and intermediate portion, allowing for minimally invasive occlusion and separation by twisting the intermediate portion, which requires less force and can be securely closed with a smaller clamp, reducing tissue interference and blood leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flow cannula is cut close below the patient's skin to facilitate handling, then the remaining part of the flow cannula is relatively long, but this may affect the surrounding tissue and cause irritations or even inflammations
Solution Approach 1:
The flow cannula is divided into three distinct segments: a distal portion, an intermediate portion, and a proximal portion. This segmentation allows the intermediate portion to be twisted and occluded, enabling the distal portion to be shortened and removed, leaving only a minimal remaining part in the patient's body that does not interfere with surrounding tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate portion is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to be twisted and occluded during the removal procedure. This dynamic property enables the transition from a long flow cannula to a configuration where the distal portion can be separated and removed, leaving minimal tissue interference.
2Reliability
If a bulky clamp is used to close the remaining part of the flow cannula, then blood leaks can be prevented, but the clamp may affect the surrounding tissue and cause irritations or even inflammations
Solution Approach 1:
The flow cannula is segmented into three portions, allowing occlusion to be applied specifically at the intermediate portion rather than requiring a bulky clamp on the distal portion. This segmentation enables the use of a smaller, less intrusive clamp that still effectively prevents blood leaks.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate portion acts as an intermediary element that can be twisted and occluded to stop blood flow. This intermediary structure allows for effective occlusion using a smaller clamp, eliminating the need for bulky clamps that would interfere with surrounding tissue.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the flow cannula is made relatively stiff and with a relatively large diameter for structural integrity, then it can maintain its shape, but it cannot be clamped tightly such that blood leaks into the patient's thorax
Solution Approach 1:
The flow cannula is divided into three portions with different structural characteristics. The distal and proximal portions maintain structural integrity with sufficient stiffness, while the intermediate portion is designed to be more flexible and twistable, enabling effective occlusion without compromising the overall structural integrity of the flow cannula.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the flow cannula have different local qualities: the distal and proximal portions are relatively stiff for structural integrity, while the intermediate portion has localized flexibility to allow twisting and occlusion. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity and enabling effective clamping.
4Productivity
If complete removal of the flow cannula from the heart is performed, then the blood pump can be fully removed, but this would require an open thorax surgery and involve a high risk of severe bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The flow cannula is segmented into three portions that can be separated from each other. This segmentation enables a staged removal process where the distal portion can be twisted and occluded, then separated and removed through a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for open thorax surgery and reducing the risk of severe bleeding.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate portion is designed to be dynamically twistable, enabling the occlusion and separation process to be performed through small incisions rather than requiring open surgery. This dynamic property facilitates minimally invasive removal of the blood pump system.
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
Facilitates easy and secure occlusion of the flow cannula during removal, minimizing invasive procedures and reducing tissue irritation and inflammation risks.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate portion allows at least one of clamping and twisting, in particular twisting, thereof with a lower force than at least one of the distal portion and the proximal portion
Data Source
AI summary
A blood pump for supporting a patient's heart includes a flow cannula having a distal portion including a distal end and a proximal portion including a proximal end opposite the distal end, the distal end of the flow cannula configured to be connected to the patient's heart or a blood vessel to establish fluid communication between the blood pump and the patient's heart and blood vessel, respectively. The flow cannula further includes an intermediate portion attached to the distal portion and the proximal portion, wherein the intermediate portion allows twisting thereof with a lower force than the distal portion and the proximal portion. The intermediate portion can be fully occluded by twisting it. At least a portion of the intermediate portion either alone or in combination with the distal portion is adapted to be permanently attached to the patient's heart or a blood vessel.