Ventricular Catheter Balloon Positioning for Cardiac Viability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to accurately assess cardiac function of donor hearts before transplantation, particularly in preventing damage during measurement and ensuring accurate prediction of post-transplant cardiac function, with existing methods being limited in application to humans and causing potential harm to the heart tissue.
Innovation Solution
A specialized catheter system with an inflatable balloon and expandable mesh, designed for insertion into the ventricles, which includes a pressure sensor and servo-controlled inflation device to measure cardiac viability without causing significant damage, allowing for separate evaluation of each ventricle's function and secure positioning within the heart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a measuring apparatus is inserted into the ventricular cavity to measure cardiac function, then cardiac function can be assessed, but the apparatus may be ejected during contraction causing damage to heart tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is positioned and secured in the ventricular cavity before cardiac contraction occurs. The operator positions the catheter tip against the ventricular wall and secures it before the heart begins beating, preventing ejection during contraction and avoiding tissue damage while enabling accurate pressure measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter acts as an intermediary device that transmits pressure information from the ventricular cavity to external measurement instruments without requiring direct fixation to the heart wall. The catheter's flexible structure allows it to follow ventricular wall motion and transmit pressure waves accurately while avoiding tissue damage
2Stability of the object's composition
If surgical fixation is used to prevent measuring apparatus ejection, then apparatus stability is improved, but labor increases and heart tissue may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter is designed to be self-retaining through its physical configuration rather than requiring external fixation. The catheter's shape and flexibility allow it to maintain position within the ventricular cavity by conforming to the chamber geometry and following wall motion, eliminating the need for surgical sutures or clips
Solution Approach 2:
The catheter employs a flexible structure that can conform to the ventricular cavity shape and move with the heart wall during contraction. This flexibility allows the catheter to maintain stable positioning without rigid fixation, avoiding tissue damage while ensuring measurement stability
3Ease of operation
If ventricles are not fully filled with blood, then measurement conditions are simplified, but air may be ejected through the aortic valve and coronary arteries causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes air from the ventricular cavity through the catheter before measurement begins. By actively removing air bubbles from the chamber, the system prevents air from being ejected through the aortic valve and coronary arteries during contraction, eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining simplified measurement conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary action to prevent air ejection damage before it can occur. By removing air from the ventricular cavity before cardiac contraction begins, the system pre-empts the potential harmful effect of air being forced through the aortic valve and coronary arteries during the measurement process
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
Enables accurate and non-damaging cardiac function assessment of donor hearts, preventing air ejection and ensuring secure positioning, thereby improving the prediction of post-transplant cardiac function and reducing the risk of heart tissue damage during measurement.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor
Implementation Method 2
The hollow body allows for fluid to be pumped out of the distal end, into the balloon
Data Source
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AI summary
A device adapted for determining cardiac viability, wherein said device includes: a cannula having a hollow body and at least a distal end adapted for insertion into a heart and operator end for adapted for an operator to position the catheter in the ventricular apex and adapted for connection to a plumbing system; an inflatable balloon positioned near to the distal end in fluid communication with the hollow body to allow for selected inflation of the balloon, a controller adapted to calculate the viability of the heart from pressure data detected within cannula or balloon which is inflated to various degrees with an incompressible fluid.