Ventricular Ejection Device with Self-Powered Recoiling Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ventricular assist devices for heart failure require major surgical procedures, are prone to clot formation, blood cell damage, and have high power requirements, leading to infections and poor quality of life due to the need for external power sources.

Innovation Solution

A ventricular ejection device with an anchoring stent and a recoiling part that extends and recoils based on blood flow, allowing for percutaneous or surgical delivery and anchoring to the myocardium, facilitating blood ejection without the need for external power sources, and minimizing device migration and blood cell damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If mechanical ventricular assist devices are used to assist heart pumping, then pumping function is improved, but device complexity and power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheart pumping functionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ventricular ejection device utilizes the heart's own blood flow and pressure to drive the recoiling part, eliminating the need for external power sources. The recoiling part automatically extends during diastole when blood flows into the ventricle and recoils during systole to eject blood, creating a self-powered mechanism that assists pumping without complex external control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex mechanical pump systems with a simpler elastic recoiling mechanism. Instead of using motor-driven mechanical pumps, the device employs an elastic recoiling part that passively responds to physiological conditions (blood flow and pressure changes) to provide pumping assistance, significantly reducing mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If external power sources and drive lines are used to power ventricular assist devices, then pumping function is maintained, but infection risk and quality of life deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepumping functionVSAvoidinfection risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention completely removes the external power source and drive line components from the ventricular assist system. By extracting these external elements and replacing them with an internally self-powered elastic recoiling mechanism driven by blood flow, the design eliminates the infection pathway associated with transcutaneous power transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is entirely self-powered by the heart's own physiological processes. The recoiling part uses the energy from blood flow during diastole and systole to operate, eliminating dependency on external power sources and their associated complications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If percutaneous delivery method is used, then surgical morbidity is reduced, but device anchoring stability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical morbidityVSAvoiddevice anchoring stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring stent is designed with dynamic deployment characteristics, transitioning from a compressed delivery state to an expanded anchored state. The stent can be delivered percutaneously in a low-profile configuration and then expanded within the ventricle to engage the myocardium, achieving stable anchoring through a controlled dynamic transition that minimizes surgical intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 device effectively assists heart pumping by anchoring securely to the myocardium, reducing the risk of complications and improving quality of life by eliminating the need for external power sources and minimizing surgical morbidity.

Implementation Method 1

a recoiling part in physical coupling to the anchoring stent, the recoiling part extending from the perimeter of the anchoring stent to a center of the device, and adapted to extend or recoil based on flow of blood into and out of the ventricle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3528866B1A ventricular ejection device
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 THANIKACHALAM MOHAN
  • EP3528866B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3528866B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP3528866B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A

AI summary

A ventricular ejection device adapted to be delivered percutaneously or surgically in to a ventricle of the heart, and the device comprising of an anchoring stent which is adapted to be fitted along a perimeter to a myocardium of the ventricle, and a recoiling part in physical coupling to the anchoring stent, extends from the perimeter of the anchoring stent to a center of the device, and adapted to extend or recoil based on flow of blood into and out of the ventricle.