Ventricular Assist Anchoring Crown for Minimally Invasive Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cardiac support systems lack a reliable anchoring mechanism in blood vessels, leading to potential dislocation and malfunction due to lack of fixation, necessitating invasive implantation methods.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a crown and unfolding elements made of biocompatible materials like Nitinol, designed to unfold and anchor within the blood vessel, providing a radial frictional connection and minimally invasive insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cardiac support system is implanted without an anchoring mechanism, then the implantation procedure is simpler, but the device is prone to dislocation and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring apparatus is divided into separate functional components: a crown portion for radial expansion and anchoring, and a shaft portion with a heart pump. This segmentation allows the anchoring function to be added without complicating the overall implantation procedure, as each component serves a specific purpose that can be implemented independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The crown portion is designed to dynamically change its diameter - compressed to a small diameter for insertion through minimally invasive access, then expanded to a large diameter for anchoring in the aorta. This dynamic transformation allows the device to achieve reliable anchoring without requiring complex surgical procedures or large incisions.
2Reliability
If a large-diameter anchoring structure is used, then the device can be securely anchored in the blood vessel, but the insertion becomes more invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The crown portion dynamically transforms from a compressed small-diameter state during insertion to an expanded large-diameter state for anchoring. This dynamic size change enables the device to pass through small vascular access points minimally invasively, then securely anchor in the larger aorta without requiring large incisions or traumatic insertion procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The crown portion is nested within a delivery catheter in a compressed state, allowing it to be delivered through minimally invasive percutaneous or surgical arterial accesses. Once positioned in the aorta, the crown is deployed from the catheter and expanded to its full diameter for anchoring, eliminating the need for large-diameter insertion pathways.
3Strength
If the apparatus is made rigid for stable anchoring, then the anchoring strength is improved, but the ability to unfold from insertion state to anchoring state is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus utilizes material parameter changes - specifically using shape memory materials like Nitinol that can transition between different structural states. These materials maintain rigidity and strength when in the expanded anchoring state while allowing compression and folding during insertion, enabling the device to achieve both strong anchoring and state transformation capabilities through material property changes rather than structural complexity.
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
Ensures long-term stable positioning of cardiac support systems by preventing dislocation, allowing for minimally invasive implantation and integration with the blood vessel anatomy.
Implementation Method 1
at least the unfolding element (120) is made of a shape memory material
Implementation Method 2
providing a radial frictional connection
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (100) for anchoring a ventricular assist system in a blood vessel, the apparatus (100) being able to assume an insertion state for insertion of the ventricular assist system into the blood vessel, and the apparatus (100) being able to assume an anchoring state in order to anchor the ventricular assist system in the blood vessel. The apparatus (100) has at least one fixing means (105) for fixing the apparatus (100) to the ventricular assist system (205), a crown (110) and a connection means (115). The crown (110) is formed from at least one unfolding element (120). The unfolding element (120) is designed to unfold during the transfer from the insertion state into the anchoring state in order to enlarge the diameter of the crown (110) so as to anchor the apparatus (100) in the blood vessel. The connection means (115) is designed to connect the crown (110) to the fixing means (105).