Variable-Volume Reservoir for Implantable Fluidic Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable systems, such as artificial urinary sphincters, face challenges with sudden pressure variations that can lead to tissue damage due to overpressures, which existing solutions like deformable membranes with springs complicate the structure and pose issues of leak tightness, biocompatibility, and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An implantable system with a fluid circuit featuring a variable-volume reservoir and an elastically deformable second part that adjusts its volume to compensate pressure variations, using an actuator to move the second part and maintain a setpoint pressure, minimizing energy consumption and size, and ensuring biocompatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a deformable membrane with spring is added to compensate overpressures, then pressure compensation capability is improved, but device complexity increases and leak tightness becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir wall is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both the fluid containment boundary and the pressure compensation mechanism through its elastic deformability. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate compensation components like membranes and springs, thereby maintaining pressure compensation capability while reducing device complexity and ensuring leak tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir wall is designed as a multi-functional component that provides both structural containment and active pressure regulation. By making the reservoir wall itself elastically deformable, it universally serves as both the fluid barrier and the compensation mechanism, eliminating the need for dedicated compensation parts and thus simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a deformable membrane is used for pressure compensation, then pressure variation control is improved, but biocompatibility and efficiency become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir wall integrates the pressure compensation function directly into the fluid containment structure. By making the reservoir wall itself elastically deformable, the system achieves pressure variation control without introducing separate membrane components that would raise biocompatibility concerns, thereby eliminating harmful factors while maintaining effective pressure control.
3Reliability
If the second part is made elastically deformable for pressure compensation, then pressure compensation capability is improved, but manufacturing precision becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir wall's elastic deformability is achieved by controlling material parameters (such as elastomeric properties) and geometric parameters (such as wall thickness and convolutions) rather than requiring precise mechanical assemblies. This approach to pressure compensation through material and structural parameter optimization enables manufacturing with standard precision while maintaining effective pressure compensation capability.
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 system effectively and rapidly compensates for pressure variations, preventing tissue damage by mechanically adjusting the reservoir volume to maintain stable pressure, thus ensuring the safety and efficiency of the implantable system.
Implementation Method 1
the second part is also elastically deformable, such that, when the second part is stationary relative to the first part, the second part is adapted for being mechanically deformed at least in response to a variation in pressure in the fluid circuit
Data Source
AI summary
The invention describes a system that is implantable in a human or animal body, comprising: —a fluidic circuit comprising: —an inflatable element (3) containing a variable volume of a fluid; —a variable-volume fluid reservoir (5) comprising a fixed first part (10) and a movable second part (20); and—an actuator (8) mechanically coupled to the second part (20); wherein the second part (20) is also elastically deformable such that, when the second part (20) is fixed with respect to the first part (10), the second part (20) is designed to be mechanically deformed in response to a variation in pressure in the fluidic circuit, so as to alter the volume of the reservoir (5) in order to compensate for said variation in pressure in the fluidic circuit.