Catheter pump

• US 10,086,121 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Fitzgerald, Keif M., Keenan, Richard L., Harrison, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): So, Elizabeth K
• Application Number:
  US15/172,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20160279309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/13 by means of a catheter allowing explantation, e.g. catheter pumps temporarily introduced via the vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/174 discharging the blood to the ventricle or arterial system via a cannula internal to the ventricle or arterial system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/216 including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/237 the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/411 generated by an electromotor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/414 transmitted by a rotating cable, e.g. for blood pumps mounted on a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/508 Electronic control means, e.g. for feedback regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/808 specially adapted for deformable impellers, e.g. expandable impellers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/81 Pump housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/825 Contact bearings, e.g. ball-and-cup or pivot bearings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/857 Implantable blood tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/859 Connections therefor

Abstract

A catheter pump is provided that includes a rotatable impeller and an elongate cannula. The elongate cannula has a mesh that has a plurality of circumferential members disposed about the impeller. The elongate cannula has a plurality of axial connector extending between a proximal side of a distal circumferential member and a distal side of a proximal circumferential member. The circumferential members are radially self-expandable. The cannula is configured to minimize fracture within at least in the distal zone of the mesh as the elongated cannula moves into a sheathing device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inducing motion of a fluid relative to the apparatus, comprising:

a rotatable impeller; and

an elongate cannula defining a blood flow channel in which the impeller is disposed, the cannula comprising an expandable structure comprising;

a plurality of circumferential members disposed about the blood flow channel, the circumferential members having an undulating configuration including a plurality of apices connected by elongate struts;

a plurality of circumferential connectors disposed between alternating struts of adjacent circumferential members; and

a plurality of axial connectors comprising a distal end coupled with a proximal side of a proximal apex of a first circumferential member, a proximal end coupled with a distal face of a second circumferential member disposed adjacent to and proximal of the first circumferential member, and an arcuate section disposed therebetween, wherein the arcuate section comprises a single convex portion disposed between the proximal and distal ends.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate cannula comprises an impeller zone disposed about the impeller and a distal zone disposed distal of the impeller zone, and wherein the axial connectors comprise a first plurality and further comprising:

a second plurality of axial connectors is disposed between a proximal side of a proximal apex and a distal side of an adjacent circumferential member in the distal zone of the cannula, the axial connectors of the second plurality being more flexible than the axial connectors of the first plurality.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure comprising polyurethane disposed about the circumferential members to enclose a lumen along a length of the cannula between an inlet and an outlet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate cannula comprises an impeller zone disposed about the impeller and a distal zone disposed distal of the impeller zone, and wherein the plurality of circumferential connectors are disposed in the impeller zone and are not disposed in the distal zone.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of circumferential connectors include a first group of circumferential connectors having a first length and a second group of circumferential connectors having a second length, the first length greater than the second length.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first length is greater than an unexpanded separation distance between adjacent circumferential members connected by the first group of circumferential connectors.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second length is about one half of the first length.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of circumferential connectors each have at least one concave portion adapted to receive a portion of a crest of an associated circumferential member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of circumferential connectors each have a length longer than multiple times an unexpanded separation distance between adjacent circumferential members connected by the circumferential connectors.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the axial connectors comprise a first plurality of axial connectors, the apparatus further comprising:

a second plurality of axial connectors each having a plurality of curved sections.