An Expandable Percutaneous Venous Cannula for Use in Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Support

The device is an innovative expandable percutaneous venous cannula designed for efficient, complete venous drainage during extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support. It features a bundle of medical-grade PVC tubes arranged evenly and anchored at each end by PTFE cylinders. Perpendicular slices in the tubes open as vacuum ports upon expansion, while two stainless steel spring rods perform as a pull mechanism and an anchoring element. The device is deployed through the right internal jugular vein, navigating the superior vena cava, right atrium, and inferior vena cava. A flexible outer sheath encases the assembly, and anti-thrombogenic coatings can be added to reduce the risk of clot formation during ECMO.

Description

What sets this technology apart is its ability to conform to the atrial geometry with a single cannula, replacing traditional bicaval drainage systems. The heat-formed expanded configuration dramatically improves volumetric drainage efficiency and minimizes suction occlusion. The strategic design of expansion mechanics, along with precision-engineered vacuum ports, provides superior adaptability to the atrial volume while ensuring simpler, less invasive deployment and removal compared to conventional straight cannulae.

Applications

- ECMO support cannulation
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Single cannula drainage

Advantages

- Enables complete venous drainage with a single, expandable cannula, eliminating the need for multiple devices.
- Conforms to atrial geometry for optimal fluid drainage and efficient atrial emptying.
- Reduces the risk of suction occlusion through strategically positioned vacuum ports.
- Facilitates minimally invasive insertion and removal with standard Seldinger techniques and a flexible sheath.
- Minimizes tissue trauma and shortens operation times, with added benefits of anti-thrombogenic coatings.

IP Status

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20190365981A1