Implantable VAD Balloon Mimics Heart Function
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ventricular assist devices, particularly magnetically levitated centrifugal pumps, face challenges such as cardiac rupture, hemorrhage, infection, lifetime anticoagulation, non-pulsatile perfusion, and high cost, and do not effectively integrate anatomical and physiological heart properties.
Innovation Solution
An implantable ventricular assist device with a three-dimensional mesh-like intraventricular stent and a balloon-like structure driven by a magnetic squeeze system, which expands and shrinks to mimic the heart's systolic and diastolic functions, using a double chamber extrusion driving system with a magnetic field to pump blood in a pulsatile manner without mechanical motors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a magnetically levitated centrifugal pump is used, then blood pumping function is achieved, but cardiac rupture, hemorrhage, and infection risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugal pump system with a balloon-like structure driven by magnetic field compression. The balloon expands and contracts to pump blood, eliminating mechanical rotors and centrifuges that cause cardiac rupture and hemorrhage. The magnetic field compression system eliminates the need for mechanical seals and bearings, reducing infection risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters from continuous centrifugal force to pulsatile compression and expansion cycles. The balloon-like structure undergoes periodic volume changes driven by magnetic field compression, creating pulsatile blood flow that mimics natural heart function and reduces mechanical trauma to the cardiac system.
2Reliability
If a magnetically levitated centrifugal pump is used, then blood pumping function is achieved, but lifetime anticoagulation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotor system with a balloon-like compression system that does not require mechanical seals or moving parts in contact with blood. This eliminates the source of thrombus formation and the need for lifetime anticoagulation, while maintaining effective blood pumping function.
3Reliability
If a magnetically levitated centrifugal pump is used, then blood pumping function is achieved, but non-pulsatile perfusion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic compression and expansion cycles of the balloon-like structure driven by magnetic field oscillation. This creates pulsatile blood flow that mimics natural cardiac function, improving tissue perfusion and reducing the harmful effects of continuous non-pulsatile flow.
4Reliability
If a mechanical blood pumping device is used, then blood pumping function is achieved, but high cost is incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical pumping systems with a simpler balloon-like structure driven by magnetic field compression. This reduces manufacturing complexity, eliminates the need for precision mechanical seals and bearings, and lowers overall device cost while maintaining blood pumping function.
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
This solution reduces energy consumption, prevents infection and hemorrhage, and effectively mimics natural heart function, providing pulsatile blood flow while being easy to control externally, thus addressing the limitations of existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
a power system for driving the change of the balloon-like structure between the contractile configuration and the diastolic configuration
Implementation Method 2
a balloon-like structure disposed inside the intraventricular stent to drive the change of the artificial chamber between a contractile configuration and a diastolic configuration
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable ventricular assist device comprises an intraventricular stent used for the creation of an artificial chamber inside the ventricle, a balloon-like structure used to drive the change of the artificial chamber between a contractile configuration and a diastolic configuration, a power system used for driving the change of the balloon-like structure between the contractile configuration and the diastolic configuration. There is also a power system and a mechanical design to operate the system working, wherein in the contractile configuration, the balloon-like structure expands and occupies the space of the artificial chamber and drives the blood inside the artificial chamber flow outside the artificial chamber, wherein in the diastolic configuration, the balloon-like structure shrinks and releases the space inside the artificial chamber, and the blood outside the artificial chamber flows back into the artificial chamber. It is easy to reach the goal of cardiac function.