Derivative works

Defensive Disclosure and Prior Art Generation

Publication Date: May 10, 2026
Reference Patent: U.S. Patent No. 11,589,880
Subject: Derivative Works, Obvious Variants, and Cross-Domain Applications of Systems for Prophylactic Capture of Dislodged Material in a Recirculating Fluid Circuit.

This document discloses a series of inventions, technical improvements, and novel applications derived from the core principles described in U.S. Patent 11,589,880. The purpose of this publication is to place these concepts in the public domain, thereby establishing them as prior art for any future patent applications.

---

Axis 1: Material & Component Substitution

1.1. Shape-Memory Polymer (SMP) Actuated Funnel with Bio-Absorbable Coating

Enabling Description: The deployable funnel at the distal tip of the suction cannula is fabricated from a biocompatible shape-memory polymer (SMP) with a glass transition temperature (Tg) set slightly above body temperature (e.g., 40-45°C). The cannula incorporates a micro-heating element (e.g., a resistive wire or an inductive coil) near the distal tip. The funnel is manufactured in its expanded, flared state and then mechanically collapsed into its low-profile delivery state below its Tg. For deployment, a low-voltage current is applied to the heating element, raising the local temperature of the SMP above its Tg, causing it to elastically return to its pre-programmed expanded funnel shape. This allows for controlled, non-mechanical deployment. The internal surface of the funnel is coated with a lubricious, bio-absorbable hydrogel containing a non-thrombogenic agent like heparin, which dissolves over the course of the procedure to minimize friction and thrombus formation.

graph TD
    A[Start: Funnel Collapsed at Temp < Tg] --> B{Apply Current to Micro-Heater};
    B --> C{Local Temp Rises > Tg};
    C --> D[SMP Funnel Deploys to Memorized Shape];
    D --> E{Procedure Complete: Deactivate Heater};
    E --> F{Local Temp Drops < Tg};
    F --> G[Funnel Becomes Pliable for Sheath-Based Retraction];
    subgraph Cannula Tip
        D -- Contains --> H(SMP Funnel);
        H -- Coated with --> I(Bio-absorbable Heparin Hydrogel);
    end

1.2. Magnetorheological Fluid-Based Variable-Stiffness Cannula

Enabling Description: The suction cannula body is constructed as a composite tube with a sealed inner channel containing a magnetorheological (MR) fluid. A series of controllable micro-electromagnets are embedded along the length of the cannula. In the unpowered state, the MR fluid has low viscosity, rendering the cannula highly flexible for navigating tortuous anatomy. Upon reaching a target location where more pushability or stability is needed, specific electromagnets are activated. This applies a magnetic field to the MR fluid, dramatically increasing its viscosity and effectively stiffening that segment of the cannula. This allows for dynamic, real-time adjustment of cannula stiffness without the need for an internal stylet or an outer sheath, enabling precise positioning and force application.

sequenceDiagram
    participant Operator;
    participant CannulaController;
    participant CannulaBody;
    participant MR_Fluid;

    Operator->>CannulaController: Navigate to Target Anatomy;
    CannulaController->>CannulaBody: Electromagnets OFF;
    CannulaBody->>MR_Fluid: No Magnetic Field;
    MR_Fluid-->>CannulaBody: Low Viscosity (Flexible State);
    Operator->>CannulaController: Position Reached, Require Stiffness;
    CannulaController->>CannulaBody: Activate Proximal Electromagnets;
    CannulaBody->>MR_Fluid: Apply Magnetic Field;
    MR_Fluid-->>CannulaBody: High Viscosity (Stiffened State);

Axis 2: Operational Parameter Expansion

2.1. Micro-Scale Neurovascular Emboli Prevention System

Enabling Description: The system is miniaturized for use in cerebral blood vessels during neurointerventional procedures like aneurysm coiling or mechanical thrombectomy for stroke. The "suction cannula" is a 3-French microcatheter with a distal funnel formed from laser-cut Nitinol film (thickness ~10-20 microns). The "reinfusion cannula" is an integral lumen within a guide catheter. The pump is an external, precision microfluidic syringe pump capable of flow rates from 0.5-5 mL/min to prevent vessel collapse. The system is placed downstream of the treatment site (e.g., in the internal carotid artery siphon) to capture any dislodged coil fragments or thrombi, which would otherwise cause a distal stroke. The filter is a micro-etched silicon membrane with a pore size of 100 microns, integrated into the external tubing.

flowchart LR
    subgraph Intracranial Space
        A[Aneurysm Coiling Site] -->|Blood Flow + Debris| B(Micro-Funnel Capture);
    end
    subgraph Extracorporeal Circuit
        B --> C{Micro-Catheter};
        C --> D[Microfluidic Pump];
        D --> E[Silicon Micro-Filter];
        E --> F[Filtered Blood];
    end
    subgraph Guide Catheter
        F --> G(Reinfusion Lumen);
    end
    G --> |Blood Flow| H[Distal Circulation];

2.2. Industrial-Scale Pipeline Debris Capture System

Enabling Description: The core method is scaled for use in large-bore (e.g., 24-48 inch diameter) industrial fluid pipelines, such as municipal water mains or hydrocarbon transport lines. During a cleaning operation using a mechanical "pig," this system is installed at a downstream access point. The "suction cannula" is a flexible, high-pressure hose with a large, robust, spring-steel deployable funnel that expands to the inner diameter of the pipe. A high-capacity industrial pump (e.g., a centrifugal or diaphragm pump) draws fluid and dislodged debris (scale, biofilm, sediment) into the system. The fluid is passed through a multi-stage hydrocyclone separator to remove particulate matter and then returned to the pipeline via a second "reinfusion" hose just upstream of the suction point. This creates a local recirculation loop that allows the cleaning to occur without shutting down the main pipeline flow.

graph TD
    P1[Pipeline Flow] --> Pig(Mechanical Cleaning Pig);
    Pig --> |Dislodged Debris| P2;
    P2 --> Funnel(Deployable Steel Funnel);
    Funnel --> Suction(Suction Hose);
    Suction --> Pump(Industrial Pump);
    Pump --> Separator(Hydrocyclone Separator);
    Separator -->|Debris Out| Waste;
    Separator -->|Clean Fluid| Reinfusion(Reinfusion Hose);
    Reinfusion --> P1;
    linkStyle 7 stroke-width:2px,fill:none,stroke:green;
    linkStyle 0 stroke-width:2px,fill:none,stroke:blue;

Axis 3: Cross-Domain Application

3.1. Aerospace: In-Orbit Coolant Loop Decontamination

Enabling Description: A compact, radiation-hardened version of the system for maintaining the integrity of spacecraft thermal control loops (e.g., ammonia or water-glycol coolants). If a component like a pump bearing begins to fail, it sheds microscopic metallic particles. Before replacing the component, this system is attached to the coolant line. The "funnel cannula" is inserted downstream of the failing component to capture any particulate generated during the removal and replacement procedure. A small, zero-gravity-compatible peristaltic pump circulates the coolant through a fine-mesh metallic filter (e.g., 5-micron sintered titanium) and returns it to the loop. This prevents contaminants from lodging in sensitive microchannel heat exchangers or control valves elsewhere in the spacecraft.

stateDiagram-v2
    state "Coolant Loop" as Loop {
        [*] --> Nominal
        Nominal --> Component_Fail: Bearing Wear
        Component_Fail --> Decon_Setup: Initiate Maintenance
        state "Decontamination Active" as Decon {
            Decon_Setup --> Capture: Insert Capture System
            Capture: Funnel deployed downstream
            Capture: Pump activated, fluid recirculated
            Capture --> Component_Swap: Debris captured during work
            Component_Swap --> Loop_Purge: New component installed
            Loop_Purge --> Decon_Setup: Remove Capture System
        }
        Decon_Setup --> Nominal: Maintenance Complete
    }

3.2. AgTech: Aquaponics System Health Management

Enabling Description: A system for removing harmful flocculants, excess biofilm, and diseased root fragments from large-scale aquaponics or hydroponics systems without disrupting the nutrient cycle. When a section of plants is being removed or treated for a root disease, the device's intake funnel is placed at the outlet of the grow bed. The system pumps the nutrient-rich water, filters out the solid biological waste using a simple, washable screen filter, and then passes the water through a UV sterilizer integrated into the reinfusion line before returning it to the main reservoir. This prevents the spread of pathogens to other parts of the system and maintains water quality, conserving both water and dissolved nutrients.

flowchart TD
    subgraph Grow_Bed
        A[Diseased Plant Removal] -->|Water Flow + Debris| B(Capture Funnel);
    end
    B --> C{Pump};
    C --> D[Screen Filter];
    D --> |Solid Waste| E(Collection Bin);
    D --> |Filtered Water| F(UV Sterilizer);
    F --> G[Reinfusion Line];
    G --> H(Main Nutrient Reservoir);

Axis 4: Integration with Emerging Tech

4.1. AI-Optimized Hemolysis-Minimizing Control System

Enabling Description: The system integrates real-time machine learning for operational control. The distal tip of the suction cannula is equipped with a micro-ultrasound transducer and an impedance sensor. The AI model receives data from these sensors to classify the size, shape, and density of the target material. It also monitors flow rate and pressure from the pump and a hemolysis sensor (measuring plasma-free hemoglobin) in the reinfusion line. The model continuously adjusts the pump's RPM and suction ramp-rate to create the optimal flow dynamics for en bloc capture of the specific target material, while simultaneously minimizing shear stress on red blood cells to keep hemolysis below a clinically acceptable threshold. The system "learns" from each procedure, improving its capture algorithms over time.

graph LR
    subgraph Cannula_Tip
        US(Ultrasound Sensor)-->AI;
        IS(Impedance Sensor)-->AI;
    end
    subgraph Pump_Assembly
        FR(Flow Rate Sensor)-->AI;
        P(Pressure Sensor)-->AI;
    end
    subgraph Reinfusion_Line
        HS(Hemolysis Sensor)-->AI;
    end
    AI(AI Control Model)-->Pump(Pump Actuator);
    Pump-->|Optimized Suction| Cannula_Tip;

4.2. IoT-Enabled Predictive Maintenance and Consumables Tracking

Enabling Description: The entire extracorporeal unit (pump, filter) is an IoT device with a cellular/Wi-Fi connection. The single-use filter canister contains an RFID tag and a differential pressure sensor. The IoT module reads the RFID to verify the component is authentic and not expired. During operation, it monitors the pressure drop across the filter, pump runtime, and flow rates. This data is streamed to a cloud platform. A predictive model on the cloud analyzes this data to forecast the remaining functional life of the filter in real-time and alerts the surgical team 10-15 minutes before a change-out is required. It also automatically updates hospital inventory and can trigger a reorder of the consumable kits.

sequenceDiagram
    participant CannulaKit;
    participant Pump_IoT_Module;
    participant Cloud_Platform;
    participant Hospital_System;

    Pump_IoT_Module->>CannulaKit: Read RFID Tag;
    CannulaKit-->>Pump_IoT_Module: Send Kit ID, Expiry Date;
    Pump_IoT_Module->>Cloud_Platform: Authenticate Kit, Start Session;
    loop Real-time Monitoring
        Pump_IoT_Module->>Cloud_Platform: Stream(Pressure, Flow, Runtime);
        Cloud_Platform->>Cloud_Platform: Run Predictive Model;
        alt Filter nearing capacity
            Cloud_Platform-->>Hospital_System: Alert: 'Filter Change in 10 min';
        end
    end
    Cloud_Platform->>Hospital_System: Update Inventory, Trigger Re-order;

Axis 5: The "Inverse" or Failure Mode

5.1. Failsafe Passive Bypass and Mechanical Funnel Collapse

Enabling Description: This design prioritizes patient safety in the event of a total power failure. The deployable funnel is supported by a Nitinol scaffold that is held in its expanded state by an outer constraining sheath. The sheath's position is maintained by an electromagnetic lock. Upon power loss, the lock disengages, and a pre-loaded spring automatically retracts the sheath, causing the superelastic Nitinol funnel to passively collapse into its delivery profile. Simultaneously, within the pump housing, a pressure-sensitive, spring-loaded bypass valve, normally held closed by the pump's generated pressure, opens. This creates a passive, low-resistance conduit directly from the suction line to the reinfusion line, shunting blood flow around the stalled pump to prevent thrombosis within the extracorporeal circuit.

stateDiagram-v2
    state "Normal Operation" as ON {
        state "Funnel Deployed" as Funnel_ON
        state "Pump Active" as Pump_ON
        state "Bypass Closed" as Bypass_ON
        [*] --> Funnel_ON
        Funnel_ON --> Pump_ON
        Pump_ON --> Bypass_ON
    }
    state "Power Failure" as OFF {
        state "Funnel Collapsed" as Funnel_OFF
        state "Pump Stalled" as Pump_OFF
        state "Bypass Open" as Bypass_OFF
        [*] --> Funnel_OFF
        Funnel_OFF --> Pump_OFF
        Pump_OFF --> Bypass_OFF
    }
    ON --> OFF : Power Loss
    OFF --> ON : Power Restored & System Reset

Combination Prior Art with Open-Source Standards

1. Integration with DICOM for Intraoperative Imaging

Scenario: The suction cannula integrates a forward-looking intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe. The imaging data generated by this probe is encapsulated in the open-source DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) format. The system's console acts as a DICOM modality, sending the real-time images over the hospital network to the main angiography display and the hospital's PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). This allows the physician to visualize the undesirable material and the funnel deployment in real-time, using the same standard imaging infrastructure as all other radiological devices.

2. Control via Robot Operating System (ROS)

Scenario: The steerable suction cannula and pump controller are designed as a peripheral for a surgical robotics platform (e.g., Intuitive's Da Vinci or a competitor). The device's control interface is built upon the Robot Operating System (ROS). It exposes its functionalities (e.g., steer tip, deploy funnel, set pump RPM) as ROS "topics" and "services." This allows the main robotic system to discover and control the device seamlessly, enabling the surgeon to manipulate the cannula and activate suction directly from the master console, fully integrating it into the robotic surgical workflow.

3. Real-Time Data Streaming with MQTT

Scenario: To provide real-time data to multiple stakeholders without complex point-to-point connections, the system's control unit hosts an MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) client. It securely publishes operational data (e.g., device/123/flow_rate, device/123/pressure, device/123/filter_status) to a central MQTT broker in the hospital. Anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and remote support staff can "subscribe" to these topics using any MQTT-compliant software to get a live feed of the device's performance, creating a flexible and scalable open-source data architecture.