Ventricular Cuff Locking Structure for Stable Heart Pump Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventricular assist devices face challenges in effectively attaching to the heart and maintaining a stable position, leading to inadequate blood flow support.
Innovation Solution
A ventricular cuff with a rigid structure and anchoring mechanisms, such as suture anchors and a sewing ring, is designed to flatten the myocardium and secure the device, along with a coupling and locking mechanism to stabilize the attachment of the heart pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid cuff structure is used to flatten the myocardium, then attachment stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff is divided into multiple functional layers: an outer cuff body, an inner reinforcement layer, and integrated anchoring elements. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function while collectively achieving stable attachment without excessive overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions are merged into the cuff structure: the cuff body provides compression and flattening, while integrated anchors and sutures provide fixation. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining attachment stability
2Reliability
If multiple anchors and sutures are used to secure the pump, then reliability of attachment is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The anchors and sutures are pre-positioned and pre-configured on the cuff before implantation. This preliminary arrangement allows the surgeon to perform the attachment in a systematic sequence, reducing the complexity of the surgical procedure while ensuring reliable fixation
Solution Approach 2:
The cuff itself serves as an intermediary structure that integrates multiple anchoring points and sutures into a single component. This intermediary design allows multiple fixation elements to work together through a unified structure, improving reliability while simplifying the overall attachment process
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to stabilize the cuff-pump connection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is nested within the existing cuff and pump interface structure. The lock integrates with the cannula and cuff geometry, providing a secure connection without requiring separate external locking components, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods are disclosed for coupling a ventricular assist device to a heart. A method of coupling a ventricular assist device to a heart includes holding a ventricular cuff with a surgical tool that is reconfigurable between an unclamped configuration and a clamped configuration. A sewing ring of the ventricular cuff is attached to the heart while the ventricular cuff is held by the surgical tool. The ventricular assist device is coupled to the heart by inserting an inlet cannula of the ventricular assist device into an inlet opening of the ventricular cuff while the ventricular cuff is held by the surgical tool.