Vena Cava Connector with Blood Pump Mount for Fontan Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with failing Fontan circulation, a result of congenital heart defects, face challenges in stabilizing their circulation system prior to a heart transplant due to the inefficiency of existing methods in supporting pulmonary circulation and the wear-out of the single functioning ventricle, leading to complications such as venous backlog and heart muscle failure.
Innovation Solution
A device connecting the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava with a fluid-tight hollow body, incorporating a coupling device for a blood pump, which can be extracorporeal or intracorporeal, to actively support blood flow and alleviate pressure on the pulmonary circulation system, thereby preparing the patient for a heart transplant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a passive pulmonary circulation system is established (Fontan operation), then the single ventricle can supply the body circulation, but the pulmonary circulation becomes inefficient leading to venous backlog and heart muscle failure
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation system is segmented into two separate circuits: the body circulation supplied by the single ventricle and the pulmonary circulation supplied by an independent blood pump. This segmentation allows each circuit to have its own dedicated pumping mechanism, resolving the contradiction by preventing the single ventricle from being overloaded while ensuring reliable pulmonary blood flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides multi-functionality by serving as both a connection conduit for blood flow and a mounting platform for the blood pump. The hollow body structure universally accommodates the pump while maintaining fluid-tight connections between vascular segments, enabling the system to address both pumping power and reliability simultaneously.
2Device complexity
If the single ventricle supplies both body and pulmonary circulation, then the circulation system can be maintained with one ventricle, but the ventricle wears out leading to heart muscle failure
Solution Approach 1:
The circulatory workload is segmented between the single ventricle (responsible for body circulation) and an independent blood pump (responsible for pulmonary circulation). This division of labor extends the functional lifespan of the ventricle by preventing overload, while maintaining the simplicity of having only one ventricle in the anatomical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The blood pump acts as an intermediary device that takes over the pulmonary circulation function from the ventricle. This mediator prevents the ventricle from being subjected to excessive stress, thereby extending its operational life while maintaining the natural single-ventricle anatomy.
3Productivity
If existing methods are used to support pulmonary circulation, then the circulation system can be maintained, but the methods are inefficient leading to venous backlog
Solution Approach 1:
An active blood pump is introduced as an intermediary device to efficiently drive pulmonary blood flow. This mediator provides sufficient pumping power to overcome the inefficiencies of passive circulation, thereby preventing venous backlog while maintaining high productivity in pulmonary circulation support.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive mechanical circulation system is replaced with an active pumped circulation system for the pulmonary circuit. This substitution introduces a controllable mechanical pumping mechanism that efficiently moves blood through the lungs, eliminating the venous backlog problem associated with passive flow while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical intervention is often required in patients with failing Fontan circulation in order to stabilise the patients prior to undergoing a heart transplant. Said type of stabilisation can be carried out using a system described herein comprising a device with two inlet openings and an outlet opening.