Blood Vessel Preservation Device Using Pulsatile Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current preservative solutions, such as saline, cause endothelial damage and impair the structure and function of harvested blood vessels, while blood, although a superior preservative, interacts negatively with endothelial linings during handling, leading to vessel patency issues. Additionally, maintaining pulsatile flow and body temperature is crucial for vessel viability but challenging with existing methods.
Innovation Solution
A blood vessel preservation device that uses a vessel cannister, cannister cap, vessel alignment insert, and pulsatile pump to circulate the patient's own blood through the harvested vessel at body temperature, mimicking natural pulsatile flow and pressure to maintain endothelial health and prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If saline is used as preservative fluid, then the harvested vessel can be preserved, but significant endothelial damage occurs and vessel structure and function are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the patient's own blood as an intermediary preservative fluid instead of saline. The blood is circulated through the harvested vessel via a pulsatile flow system, serving as a mediator that maintains endothelial health while preserving the vessel. The blood contains natural constituents that protect endothelial cells, avoiding the harmful effects of saline while still providing preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the preservative fluid from saline to whole blood. This parameter change fundamentally alters the interaction with endothelial cells, transforming the harmful effect into a beneficial one. The blood's natural composition, including proteins and growth factors, actively maintains endothelial function during preservation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If blood is used as preservative fluid, then endothelial health is maintained, but blood constituents interact negatively with endothelium during harvesting and handling procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsatile flow to circulate blood through the harvested vessel. This periodic action mimics natural physiological conditions, preventing blood pooling and reducing harmful interactions between blood constituents and endothelium. The pulsatile flow pattern creates controlled shear stress that maintains endothelial health while avoiding the damaging effects of stagnant blood.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a pulsatile pump system to hydraulically circulate blood through the harvested vessel. This hydraulic system applies controlled pressure and flow rates, ensuring blood moves dynamically through the vessel rather than pooling. The pneumatic-hydraulic mechanism transforms static blood storage into dynamic blood circulation, eliminating harmful stagnant interactions.
3Reliability
If pulsatile flow is applied to preservative solution, then vessel dilatation and nitric oxide production are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a single preservation device: the pulsatile pump simultaneously circulates preservative fluid, maintains vessel patency through controlled flow, and mimics physiological conditions. The device combines preservation, perfusion, and physiological conditioning functions in one system, reducing overall complexity despite the advanced capabilities.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If body temperature is maintained during preservation, then vessel vitality is preserved, but the risk of overdistension and hemolysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates pressure sensors and flow monitors that provide feedback to the pulsatile pump system. This feedback mechanism allows real-time adjustment of flow rates and pressures, maintaining body temperature for vessel vitality while preventing overdistension and hemolysis through controlled parameters. The system self-regulates to optimize preservation conditions.
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 preserves the viability of harvested vessels by maintaining endothelial health, reducing vessel spasms, and ensuring patency, allowing sufficient time for anastomosis preparation without causing overdistension or hemolysis, thus enhancing the likelihood of successful grafting.
Implementation Method 1
application of a pulsatile flow to preservative solutions will improve and help maintain vessel dilatation. Pulsatile solution flow is also known to improve, nitric oxide production and release. In addition, flow pulsatility is known to reduce harvested vessel spasm.
Implementation Method 2
as fluid temperature decreases below normal body temperature, loss of endothelium increases. Fluid temperatures beyond normal body temperature can also be quite damaging.
Data Source
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AI summary
A blood vessel preservation device is disclosed comprised of a vessel cannister, cannister cap, vessel alignment insert, pulsatile pump and both inlet and outlet tubing. The vessel canister is advantageously configured as a hollow tube- like structure with a central bore having one open terminus -the proximal terminus- and a closed distal terminus -similar to a large test tube-. Integrated embodiments of the device are disclosed wherein blood is provided from natural circulation and returns thereto. Non-integrated embodiments are also disclosed wherein sufficient blood is provided to the device and thereafter the device functions separate and apart from a patient's circulatory system.