Unmet Need / Invention Novelty: Current synthetic and/or biological grafts used to address congenital heart abnormalities in infants and children have fixed sizes. The rapid growth of the infant or child inevitably leads to major mismatches between expanding surrounding tissues and the static original implant, which obstructs blood flow and necessitates major serial surgeries to up-size the implant. To overcome these limitations, Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a Right Ventricle-to-Pulmonary Artery (RV-PA) conduit for palliative surgical treatment for Congenital Heart Diseases in pediatrics that can grow as an infant develops.
Technical Details: Johns Hopkins researchers have developed patient-specific RV-PA conduit implants for pediatrics that adapt to anticipated changes in patient size and physiology by increasing their diameter and length as an infant grows. By utilizing biocompatible, radially folded conduits, the diameter of the shape-changing implant expands as a function of the increased blood flow rates, tissue development, and traction/compression forces observed during normal development shape to mimic the physiology of pulmonary growth. RV-PA conduits were designed by computational finite element analysis and have shown tailorable expansion rates during
in-vitro studies by altering wall thickness and number of folds.
Value Proposition:
- Biocompatible shape-changing conduit implants that adapt to pediatric physiology
- Creates a patient specific solution where shape-change mechanisms can be tailored using one or a combination of the following mechanisms: biodegradation, magnetic/electric fields, light, heat, folding, variability of radial expansion, linear elongation and twisting behavior
- Obviates the need for serial replacement surgeries and the accompanying risk of additive morbidities
- Implant design can be adapted for use in the treatment of other congenital defects such as diaphragmatic hernia and esophageal atresia.
Looking for Partners to: Develop & commercialize the conduit for use in pediatric surgical applications
Stage of Development: Prototype
Data Availability: In-vitro experimental fluidics trial
Inventors: Sung Hoon Kang, David H. Gracias, Lewis Romer, Narutoshi Hibino, Galip Ozan Erol
Patent Status: Provisional Application Pending
