Synchronization system between aortic valve and cardiac assist device

• US 20060030747A1
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adrian Kantrowitz, Allen B. Kantrowitz
• Original Assignee: Adrian Kantrowitz, Allen B. Kantrowitz
• Inventors: Kantrowitz, Allen B., Kantrowitz, Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/33 Controlling, regulating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• 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 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/268 the displacement member being flexible, e.g. membranes, diaphragms or bladders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/427 the force acting on the blood contacting member being hydraulic or pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/515 Regulation using real-time patient data
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/538 Regulation using real-time blood pump operational parameter data, e.g. motor current
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/857 Implantable blood tubes

Abstract

A cardiac assist device synchronization system includes a cardiac assist device and an acoustic or accelerometer sensor that provides a signal input to the cardiac assist device indicative of aortic valve closure. The cardiac assist device is coupled to a mammalian aorta and includes an inflatable chamber and a fluid pump. A fluid conduit is in communication between the chamber and the pump to provide for selective inflation of the chamber. A pump controller triggers the pump in counter-pulsation to a mammalian heart upstream from the aorta. A process for synchronizing a cardiac assist device in counter-pulsation with a left ventricle includes locating an acoustic or accelerometer sensor within a thoracic cavity of a mammal having the assist device coupled to the aorta of the mammal. Through the measurement of an acoustic or acceleration property of an aortic valve of the mammal, and the transmission of aortic valve closure measurement through a controller for the cardiac assist device, counter-pulsatile synchronization for the cardiac assist device is achieved.

Claims

1. A cardiac assist device synchronization system comprising:

a cardiac assist device coupled to a mammal having a thoracic cavity containing a mammalian heart having an aorta and an aortic valve comprising;

an inflatable chamber;

a fluid pump;

a fluid conduit in fluid communication between said chamber and said pump; and

a pump controller triggering said pump in counter-pulsation to a mammalian heart; and

a sensor selected from the group consisting of;

acoustic and accelerometer, said sensor providing a signal input to said controller indicating closure of the aortic valve.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said cardiac assist device is a left ventricular assist device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said left ventricular assist device is selected from a group consisting of:

cuff type, intra-aortic balloon, aortic patch, and aortic conduit.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a microphone.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is an ultrasonic transducer and receiver.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a Doppler sensor.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is an accelerometer.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is located within said fluid conduit.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is located within said cardiac ventricular assist device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is implanted in the thoracic cavity proximal to the aortic valve.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said sensor is affixed within the thoracic cavity independent of cardiac assist device components selected from the group consisting of said inflatable chamber and said fluid conduit.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said sensor is affixed directly to an aortic wall of the aorta proximic to the aortic valve.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said sensor is affixed with a suture, tissue adhesive or other method of securing said sensor to the aorta.

15. The process of claim 13 further comprising the step of implanting said sensor within the thoracic cavity by surgical technique.

17. The process of claim 13 wherein said sensor is a microphone.

19. The improved method of claim 17 comprising the further improvement of:

measuring aortic valve closure independent of blood pressure.

20. A kit for improving cardiac function comprising:

a cardiac assist device synchronization system according to claim 1 along with instructions for the surgical implantation and operation thereof.

14. A process for synchronizing a cardiac assist device in counter-pulsation with a left ventricle comprising:

locating a sensor selected from the group consisting of;

acoustic and accelerometer within a thoracic cavity of a mammal having a cardiac assist device coupled to an aorta therein;

measuring an acoustic or acceleration property of an aortic valve; and

transmitting the aortic valve closure measurement to a controller for said cardiac assist device.

16. The process of claim 14 wherein said sensor is implanted endoscopically.

18. An improved method of triggering counter-pulsation in a left ventricular assist device coupled to a mammalian heart wherein the improvement lies in acoustic measurement of aortic valve closure.