SCS: Superior‐Vena‐Cava Compressing Shape‐Memory‐Alloy‐Based Implantable Device for Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF), particularly acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), remains a significant health challenge, with limited long‐term therapeutic options to alleviate congestion and improve cardiac function. Pharmacological treatments focus on reducing congestion, but many patients are discharged with persistent symptoms, leading to poor outcomes. Current device‐based solutions, such as balloon catheters, offer some relief from fluid overload but require hospitalization, a driveline, and direct blood contact, limiting long‐term use. A s uperior‐vena‐cava (SVC) c ompressive s hape‐memory‐alloy (SMA) implantable device, “SCS” is presented, which is designed to wrap around the SVC and externally compress it to regulate blood flow, alleviating ADHF symptoms. The SCS device, actuated by biocompatible SMA actuators, adjusts the SVC's cross‐sectional area to control blood flow. Unlike existing solutions, the SCS device operates without direct blood contact, minimizing thrombosis and endothelial damage while offering a long‐term implantable solution. Benchtop tests verified the SCS's effectiveness in flow regulation (68% decrease in flow rate) while maintaining a safe surface temperature (<40 °C). In‐vivo tests in a porcine heart failure model demonstrated the device's ability to reduce left ventricular preload, observed through a leftward shift in the pressure‐volume loop (18.6% reduction in end‐diastolic volume), validating its potential as a long‐term solution for ADHF.