Ventricular Assist Impeller Control for Stable Low-Hemolysis Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventricular assist devices face challenges in efficiently pumping blood from the left ventricle to the aorta while minimizing hemolysis and maintaining a stable blood flow, particularly in the context of varying cardiac pressures and anatomical constraints.

Innovation Solution

A ventricular assist device with an impeller and axial shaft, where the impeller is configured to change between radially-constrained and non-radially-constrained configurations, and is driven by a motor outside the body with a drive cable that includes coiled wires to minimize friction and debris generation, while a computer processor adjusts the impeller's rotation based on pressure differences to maintain optimal blood flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the impeller is configured to change between radially-constrained and non-radially-constrained configurations, then the device can adapt to varying cardiac pressures and improve blood pumping efficiency, but the device complexity increases due to the need for configuration change mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to cardiac pressuresVSAvoidconfiguration change mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The impeller is designed with dynamic reconfigurability, transitioning between radially-constrained and non-radially-constrained configurations to adapt to varying cardiac pressures. This dynamic adjustment allows the impeller to optimize its pumping performance across different operational conditions without requiring multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device changes operational parameters by transitioning between different configuration states (radially-constrained vs. non-radially-constrained). This parameter change enables the impeller to respond to varying cardiac pressures and maintain optimal blood flow characteristics throughout the cardiac cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a drive cable with coiled wires is used to minimize friction and debris generation, then hemolysis is reduced and blood flow safety is improved, but the drive cable becomes more complex and may require specialized materials

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehemolysisVSAvoiddrive cable structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive cable uses coiled wires configured to minimize friction through optimized mechanical geometry. The coiled structure reduces direct contact and friction between the drive cable and surrounding tissues, thereby minimizing hemolysis while maintaining effective power transmission to the impeller.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive cable incorporates flexible coiled wire structures that reduce friction and debris generation. The coiled configuration allows the cable to flex and move smoothly through the body while minimizing contact friction that could cause hemolysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Stability of the object's composition

If the impeller rotates at adjusted speeds based on pressure differences, then blood flow stability is improved, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors pressure differences and adjusts impeller rotation speed accordingly. This feedback mechanism maintains stable blood flow by dynamically responding to changing cardiac conditions, ensuring optimal pumping performance while managing the complexity through automated control algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 device effectively pumps blood in a pulsatile or continuous manner, adapting to cardiac pressures and reducing hemolysis, with a drive system that minimizes friction and debris, enhancing the efficiency and safety of blood flow assistance.

Implementation Method 1

The impeller is configured to pump blood from the left ventricle into the aorta by rotating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a drive cable that includes coiled wires to minimize friction and debris generation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction reduction through coiled configuration: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4039321B1Ventricular assist device

Publication Date: 2026.03.25 MAGENTA MEDICAL LTD

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Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B

AI summary

Apparatus comprising: a blood pump (20) comprising: an axial shaft (92); a frame (34); an impeller (50) disposed on the axial shaft inside the frame (34); a motor (74) configured to be disposed outside a body of the subject, and configured to drive the impeller (50) to pump blood from a distal end of the impeller (50) to a proximal end of the impeller (50), by rotating the impeller (50) in a given direction of rotation; a drive cable (130) configured to extend from outside the subject's body to the axial shaft (92), the drive cable (130) being configured to impart rotational motion from the motor (74) to the impeller (50) by rotating, wherein the drive cable (130) is held in a preloaded state with respect to the frame (34), such that initiation of pumping of blood by rotation of the impeller (50) does not cause the drive cable (34) to axially elongate.