UV Blood Pump Thrombus Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable blood pumps face challenges with thrombus formation and infection due to blood stagnation and bacterial presence, leading to increased risks that require medication treatments.
Innovation Solution
Integration of ultraviolet light emitters coupled to ceramic disks or inner tubes within the blood pump housing, which emit therapeutic UV light to reduce bacterial growth and thrombus formation, potentially minimizing the need for antibiotics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a ceramic disk is placed between the stator and rotor to provide a smooth pumping surface, then the pumping efficiency is improved, but the risk of thrombus formation increases due to blood stagnation in the small gap
Solution Approach 1:
An ultraviolet (UV) light emitter is introduced as an intermediary element between the stator and rotor, positioned to irradiate the gap region where blood stagnation occurs. This UV emitter does not interfere with the mechanical pumping function but actively addresses the thrombus formation hazard by providing antimicrobial and antithrombotic irradiation to the problematic zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical design considerations with a hybrid approach that incorporates optical/energetic treatment. Instead of relying solely on mechanical flow dynamics to prevent thrombus, UV irradiation is used to chemically/biologically inhibit thrombus formation in the stagnation zone, substituting mechanical prevention with energetic treatment.
2Productivity
If the gap between the ceramic disk and impeller is reduced to improve pumping performance, then the pumping efficiency increases, but the risk of infection and thrombus increases due to blood stagnation
Solution Approach 1:
The UV light emitter is positioned to irradiate blood before it potentially stagnates in the narrow gap or as it passes through the gap region. This preliminary UV treatment prepares the blood by reducing bacterial load and inhibiting thrombus formation tendencies before the blood enters the high-risk stagnation zone, proactively preventing rather than reactively treating the problem.
3Device complexity
If conventional blood pump design is used without UV treatment, then the device structure remains simple, but medications such as antibiotics are required to treat bacterial presence and thrombus
Solution Approach 1:
The blood pump system is made self-protecting by incorporating the UV emitter that continuously or periodically treats the blood as it passes through the pump. The system serves itself by eliminating the need for external antibiotic treatment, as the UV irradiation provides ongoing sterilization and antithrombotic treatment within the pump operation itself.
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
The UV light treatment effectively decreases the risk of thrombus and infection, reducing the reliance on medications like antibiotics by addressing bacterial and thrombotic issues within the blood pump system.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet light emitter being coupled to the first ceramic disk or the second ceramic disk
Data Source
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AI summary
An implantable blood pump including a housing having an inlet cannula, a rotor disposed within the housing, the rotor in fluid communication with the inlet cannula, a stator disposed within the housing, the stator configured to rotate the rotor when a current is applied to the stator, and at least one ultraviolet light emitter disposed within the housing.