Ventricular Assist Device Attachment Ring Apical Implantation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heart assist device implantation procedures are invasive and often require a sternotomy and heart-lung bypass, leading to significant blood loss and prolonged recovery times, especially for patients with poor health.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for implanting a ventricular assist device (VAD) without sternotomy, using an attachment ring, ring clamp, coring knife, slitting tool, C-clamp tool, valvular structure, and punch to minimize blood loss and allow for a beating-heart procedure without heart-lung bypass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sternotomy and heart-lung bypass are used for VAD implantation, then the device can be implanted reliably, but blood loss increases and recovery time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The implantation procedure is segmented into distinct phases: first attaching the attachment ring to the heart apex, then creating the incision, and finally implanting the VAD. This segmentation allows for controlled access to the heart without requiring full sternotomy, thereby reducing blood loss while maintaining implantation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment ring serves as an intermediary device that provides a secure anchoring point on the heart apex. This intermediary structure enables the VAD to be attached reliably without requiring direct access to the heart chambers through sternotomy, thus reducing procedural invasiveness and blood loss
2Reliability
If a sternotomy is performed for VAD implantation, then the device can be securely attached to the heart, but the procedure becomes more invasive and recovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment ring is segmented into an outer ring and an inner core structure, allowing it to be attached to the heart apex through a minimally invasive approach while providing secure anchoring for the VAD, thus reducing procedural invasiveness without compromising attachment security
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment ring utilizes the apical dimension of the heart, attaching to the apex rather than requiring lateral access through sternotomy. This dimensional change in approach allows for secure device attachment through a less invasive route
3Reliability
If heart-lung bypass is used during VAD implantation, then the heart can be safely accessed, but the procedure complexity and side effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heart-lung bypass machine is extracted from the procedural requirements by using the attachment ring apical approach. This extraction eliminates the need for cardiopulmonary bypass while maintaining safe heart access through the minimally invasive apical route
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment ring is preliminarily attached to the heart apex before creating the incision or accessing the heart chambers. This preliminary action establishes a secure anchor point that enables subsequent steps to be performed safely without requiring heart-lung bypass
4Loss of substance
If a minimally invasive approach without sternotomy is used, then blood loss is reduced, but the challenge of accessing the heart increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment ring acts as an intermediary that facilitates heart access through a minimally invasive approach. By attaching to the apex first, it provides a platform that simplifies subsequent access steps while maintaining reduced blood loss benefits
Data Source
AI summary
A ventricular assist system and a method of implanting the system are disclosed. The system can have a pump, an inflow conduit, an outflow conduit, attachment ring, ring clamp, and a valvular structure. The attachment ring can be attached to the apex of the heart. The valvular structure can have a flexible, one-way valve in a rigid housing. The inflow conduit can be passed through the valvular structure and the attachment ring into a beating heart with minimal loss of blood. Devices such as slitting tool, coring knife, and/or C-clamp and use of the devices can form part of the system and method for implanting the ventricular assist device.